title: Overview of the methods available for biomechanical testing of the uterine cervix in vivo.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To give an overview of the methods available for biomechanical testing of the non-pregnant and pregnant uterine cervix in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  The following databases were searched. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library. Additional studies were identified from reference lists. Only studies on in vivo biomechanical testing on both pregnant and non-pregnant women were included.
  
  
  METHODS
  Estimation of distensibility, compressibility, and biochemical composition of the uterine cervix.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The distensibility methods evaluated a physiologic variable and might serve as a gold standard; however, they may never be clinically useful as they involve instrumentation of the cervical canal. The compression methods evaluated an unphysiological variable but despite that, they seemed to evaluate biologically relevant figures and were non-invasive. Of the methods evaluating the biomechanical properties indirectly, those based on ultrasound may be clinically useful. Other indirect methods only measured variables within the most superficial layer of the distal uterine cervix, so further studies are needed to evaluate whether these measurements reflect the entire organ. Both compression methods and indirect methods were similar or superior to the Bishop score and to cervical length measurements regarding prediction of spontaneous preterm delivery and successful induction of labor in small studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The methods may have the potential to detect the biomechanical changes in the uterine cervix before the cervical length has shortened. The most promising methods need large-scale clinical testing regarding induction of labor and preterm delivery before they can be used in the clinic.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Lene
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hee
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D020070:Cervical Ripening; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000502:physiology*; D003944:Diagnostic Techniques, Obstetrical and Gynecological / Q000295:instrumentation*; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010173:Palpation / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy
keywords: Uterine cervix; biomechanics; induction of labor; pregnancy; preterm delivery