COLOR-FLOW IMAGING AND DOPPLER VELOCIMETRY OF THE UTERINE ARTERIES INCONCEPTIONAL AND NONCONCEPTIONAL OVULATORY CYCLES

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether transvaginal pulsed Doppler guided by color flow imaging is able to detect modifica tions of uterine artery resistance during different phases of spontane ous conceptional and nonconceptional ovulatory cycles. Methods: The pe rfusion index (systolic/diastolic area ratio) of the uterine arteries was measured in 74 spontaneous ovulatory cycles during the follicular, preovulatory, and luteal phase. Twelve patients were monitored by dai ly examinations. Eighteen patients conceived during the cycle studied. Results: No significant difference was found between the mean perfusi on indexes of the ovulatory and non-ovulatory side of the uterus in th e three phases studied. The cross-sectional analysis of the three phas es showed significantly higher perfusion indexes in the preovulatory p eriod than during the follicular and luteal phase. Serial, daily exami nations in 12 patients confirmed these results. The group of patients who conceived showed lower perfusion indexes during the luteal phase t han patients who did not conceive (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The signifi cantly higher perfusion indexes in the preovulatory period, confirmed by serial daily examinations, suggest a possible association of increa sed uterine resistances with luteinizing hormone (LH) and prostaglandi ns in the preovulatory period. The significantly lower perfusion index es during the luteal phase in the group of patients who conceived coul d indicate better uterine vascular compliance in conceptional cycles. Color flow imaging of the ascending uterine artery allowed us to obtai n accurate Doppler velocimetric data which provide useful information on human ovulation and spontaneous conceptional cycles.