Characteristics of uterine peristalsis in spontaneous and induced cycles

Objective: To characterize the dynamics of the intrauterine fluid-wall inte rface (IUFWI) from in vivo transvaginal ultrasound images by new techniques of image processing of sagittal cross-sections of the uterus, in healthy w omen with normal cycles and patients treated with clomiphen citrate (CC). Design: Clinical study. Setting: An ultrasound unit in a large university-affiliated municipal hosp ital. Patient(s): Twenty-five patients with normal spontaneous cycles (group A) a nd nine patients treated by CC (group B). Intervention(s): Transvaginal ultrasound examinations. Main Outcome Measure(s): Transvaginal. ultrasound images were processed to carry out a computational analysis of the resultant IUFWI. Result(s): The amplitude and the width of the IUFWI were higher in group B, but the ratio of these measurements was similar in both groups. The freque ncy of wall motility of group A was lower and its pattern was more symmetri cal than that of group B. Conclusion(s): The differences in the dynamic characteristics of spontaneou s and CC-induced cycles may constitute an additional parameter that should be considered in embryo transport. (C) 2001 by American Society for Reprodu ctive Medicine.