Subendometrial contractility in menstrual phase visualized by transvaginal sonography in patients with endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the propagation direction of the subendometrial myometrial contractile wave in menstrual phase sonographically assessed in patients with and without endometriosis.

DESIGN

Prospective study.

SETTING

Patients and normal volunteers in a university hospital.

PATIENTS

Sixteen women with (study group) and 21 without (control group) endometriosis.

INTERVENTIONS

Patients were examined by transvaginal sonography (midsaggital plane of the uterus) and recorded on videotape for a 5-minute period.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Direction of propagation of contraction waves.

RESULTS

The endometriosis group showed a predominant retrograde pattern whereas the control group showed a normal antegrade.

CONCLUSION

This abnormal cervix-to-fundus myometrial activity could well increase the amount of peritoneal shedding of endometrial menstrual debris, increasing the probabilities of its heterotopic implantation.