A method for evaluating human tubal motility in vivo: a new approach for infertility investigation

Acta Eur Fertil. 1991 Nov-Dec;22(6):315-9.

Abstract

The motility of the Fallopian tube plays an important role in the gametes and embryo transport. Disorders of the tubal motor function may be involved in a great number of patients with unexplained infertility. The aim of this study was to develop a method to measure the tubal motility by means of an hysteroscopic approach in humans. The following motor parameters were evaluated: 1) the basal pressure of each 1 cm tract of the tube; 2) amplitude and frequency of the tubal contractions; 3) the uterine intraluminal pressure eight patients in the follicular phase (FP group) and 8 in the luteal phase (LP group) of the menstrual cycle, were studied. The duration of the motility recording session was 12 +/- 3 minutes (range 7-19 minutes). No significant differences were shown between the two groups of patients, and no differences were found between the recordings obtained from the right and the left tubes.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Fallopian Tubes / physiopathology*
  • Female
  • Follicular Phase / physiology
  • Humans
  • Hysteroscopy
  • Infertility, Female / diagnosis*
  • Infertility, Female / etiology
  • Luteal Phase / physiology
  • Manometry / methods
  • Muscle Contraction