A. Despot et al., TRANSVAGINAL COLOR-FLOW IMAGING OF THE UTERINE ARTERY DURING FERTILE PERIOD AND POSTMENOPAUSE, Collegium antropologicum, 21(2), 1997, pp. 525-530
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.