Doppler ultrasound studies of the uterine artery in spontaneous ovarian cycles

Abstract

Doppler studies of the uterine artery using an off-set Doppler transducer with a mechanical sector imaging transducer indicate clear changes in uterine perfusion during the ovarian cycle. In this study, 16 volunteers had Doppler studies perfonned at least twice weekly during spontaneous ovarian cycles. Endocrine assays were performed on each occasion to measure plasma oestradiol progesterone and luteinizing hormone levels. Conventional criteria to assess uterine impedance using systolic/end diastolic ratio and Resistance Index were modified to obtain meaningful results and a new flow velocity wave fonu classification is presented. The results indicate increasing uterine perfusion with rising levels of plasma oestradlol and progesterone and a direct correlation with falling oestrogen levels in the fofficular phase. We conclude that off-set mechanical sector duplex systems can he used effectively to monitor uterine responses to the hormone environment.