Change in ovarian arterial compliance during the human menstrual cycle assessed by Doppler ultrasound

Abstract

Ovarian arterial velocimetry, using real-time two-dimensional and pulsed Doppler ultrasound, was performed on 36 occasions in nine healthy women with regular menstrual cycles. The change in ovarian arterial compliance was based on the calculation of pulsatility index (PI). In the active ovary carrying a dominant follicle or corpus luteum, the PI in the early follicular phase (mean 6.97, SD 2.01) was significantly higher than that in the late follicular phase (mean 2.36, SD 0.31) (P<0.001), and the PI in the early luteal phase (mean 0-68, SD 0.09) was significantly lower than that in the late follicular phase (Y<0.001). The PI in the late luteal phase (mean 0-93, SD 0.16) was significantly higher than that in the early luteal phase (P<0.01). In the inactive ovary, no cyclical changes were seen in the values of PI. There was a significant difference between the values of PI in the active ovary and the inactive ovary in the late follicular, the early and the late luteal phases [2-36 (SD 0-31)] vs [6-29 (SD 1-02)], [0-68 (SD WOY)] vs [6.18 (SD 1-33)], [0.93 (SD 0.16) vs [6.57 (SD 1.72)] (P<0-001), respectively. Use of non-invasive Doppler ultrasound to study physiology of ovarian haemodynamics during the menstrual cycle is of great clinical relevance and paves the way for further investigations on sterility. Doppler ultrasound has been widcly used to detect various blood flow condition? of deeply located pelvic vessels in women (Hata ct al. 1988~; Taylor & Burns 1985; Taylor et ul. 19856). Myometrial arcuate arterial velocimetry by Doppler ultrasound revealed changes of myometrial arcuate arterial haemodynamics

Transvaginal Color and Pulsed Doppler Ultrasound Evidence of Hemodynamics of the Female Pelvis (With 4 color plates)

“…There was no significant difference in pulsatility of the active ovary between before and after ovulation. This finding differs from that obtained using only transabdominal Doppler ultrasound [2]. The rela tively high diastolic flow and low pulsatility was noted in the active ovary and in one benign ovarian tumor.…”

“…The rela tively high diastolic flow and low pulsatility was noted in the active ovary and in one benign ovarian tumor. Although this flow was detected by transabdominal scan in the active ovary at early luteal phase [2], the benign ovarian tumor never had this flow in the transabdominal study [1], Therefore, one should be careful in diagnosing ovarian blood flow, considering whether the patient is fertile or not, and size of the ovary. Fetal arterial blood flow was clearly demonstrated and the waveforms were characteristic, with no evidence of diastolic flow.…”

“…In postmenopausal subjects, flow signals seldom can be obtained from the uterine artery at the level of cervix [ 1 ]. The ovarian arterial color flow is not always visualized, therefore examiners must move the sampling point of the pulsed Doppler beam within the substance of ovary until the arterial blood flow velocity waveforms become visible [2]. Transvaginal ultrasound produces imagings of a better resolution than dose transabdominal ultrasound, primarily through a more satisfactory preservation of the beam pattern and utilization of higher frequencies [7], It was expected that the transvaginal approach to Doppler would offer the same benefits as for imaging and this approach has been utilized [4], We did a transvaginal Doppler color flow mapping with a special probe for the use of transesopha geal scanning [6], As the length, diameter and flexibility of the probe gave rise to the problem for transvaginal use, the ascending branch of the uterine artery only was color-mapped [6],…”

“…Various conditions of blood flow in the pelvic vessels were revealed [1][2][3]. Recently, the trans vaginal route is being used for Doppler flow measure ments of blood flow in uterine and ovarian arteries, and new hemodynamic findings were reported [4][5][6].…”

Doppler Ultrasonography and Implantation: A Critical Review

“…During the follicular phase, impedance gradually falls in the ovary containing the dominant follicle, reaching a trough level during the luteal phase [6,7]. During the normal menstrual cycle, a significant increase in the maximum velocity (V max ) and a nonsignificant decrease in the pulsatility index (PI) have been evidenced around the follicle during the peri-ovulatory period [8].…”