Impairment of Uterine Contractility Is Associated with Unexplained Infertility

Sarah Hunt; Karim S. Abdallah; Ernest Ng; Luk Rombauts; Beverley Vollenhoven; Ben W. Mol

doi:10.1055/s-0040-1716409

Seminars in Reproductive Medicine, Table of Contents

Semin Reprod Med 2020; 38(01): 061-073
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1716409

Review Article

Impairment of Uterine Contractility Is Associated with Unexplained Infertility

Sarah Hunt

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, Australia

²Monash Health, Clayton, Australia

³Monash IVF, Richmond, Australia

,

Karim S. Abdallah

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, Australia

⁴Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Assiut University, Women's Health Hospital, Assiut, Egypt

,

Ernest Ng

⁵Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

,

Luk Rombauts

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, Australia

²Monash Health, Clayton, Australia

³Monash IVF, Richmond, Australia

,

Beverley Vollenhoven

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, Australia

²Monash Health, Clayton, Australia

³Monash IVF, Richmond, Australia

,

Ben W. Mol

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, Australia

²Monash Health, Clayton, Australia

⁶Aberdeen Centre for Women's Health Research, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

The uterine junctional zone represents the juncture between endometrium and myometrium. The junctional zone is hormonally dependent and displays continuous peristaltic activity throughout the menstrual cycle in the nonpregnant state which is concerned with sperm transport and embryo implantation. Peristalsis may be observed using various invasive and noninvasive modalities, of which ultrasound is the most readily applied in the clinical setting. Women with pelvic pathology display alterations in uterine peristalsis which may contribute to infertility. Characterization of peristalsis in infertility subgroups, the development of a subjective peristalsis tool, and the application of potential therapeutics to an assisted reproductive treatment setting are the subject of ongoing investigation. Meta-analysis indicates a potential role for oxytocin antagonist in the improvement of fertility treatments.

Keywords

endometrial myometrial junction - uterine junctional zone - endometrial contractions - uterine peristalsis

Full Text

References

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