TRANSVAGINAL COLOR-FLOW IMAGING OF THE UTERINE ARTERY DURING FERTILE PERIOD AND POSTMENOPAUSE

Transvaginal sonography with color flow mapping has been used in order to study various parts of uterine circulation during fertile period a nd postmenopause. The Doppler wave forms were analysed by pulsatility index and maximum systolic velocity of uterine artery and its ascendin g branches. A significantly lower vascular resistance teas established in distal parts of the uterine artery. This finding could very likely represent a consequence of the effect of ovarian hormones on the vess el wall during the cycle. That might be a physiological basis for capa bility of fertilisation and carrying the normal pregnancy and child bi rth. Furthermore, it has been shown that during postmenopause, when ov aries normally cease steroid hormone production, it is difficult to de tect wave forms in common uterine artery. However, postmenopausal extr aovarian production of estrogen increases uterine flow and may precede hiperplastic or malignant changes of the endometrium In women with pr oven pelvic masses, abnormal waveforms were recorded showing decreased uterine impedance and increased flow velocities.