An objective measurement of physical property of the human uterine cervix and its clinical significance
Amano, K.
Nihon Sanka Fujinka Gakkai Zasshi 35(2): 168-176
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-9165 PMID: 6864013 Document Number: 197759
A new mechanical instrument, "Cervical Texturometer", has been developed for the objective measurement of cervical consistency by the use of TENSIPRESSER which was originally developed to evaluate the texture of food. The values obtained thereby have been found highly reproducible. 1. The anterior lip of the cervix was kept pressed between the disks to maintain the strain. Initial height, H(0), of the recorded stress-relaxation curve was defined as "Hardness" (100g load = 20 consistency units: C.U.) and the ratio H(0)/H(10)(H(10) = hardness after strain of 10 sec.) as "Viscoelastic Index (V.E.I.)" 2. The values of C.U. and V.E.I. were significantly correlated with the uronic acid/hydroxyproline ratio of the cervix. They gradually decreased with the progress of pregnancy under the possible influence of the changes of hormonal milieu irrespective of the presence or absence of uterine contraction. They did not change significantly, however, after 37 weeks of gestation or 2-3 weeks before the onset of labor. 3. Administration of DHAS improved the cervical consistency effectively in terms of the values of C.U. and V.E.I.. When the cervix is noted to have C.U. greater than or equal to 30, V.E.I. greater than or equal to 0.65 at the 37 weeks of gestation, administration of DHAS (200mg weekly X 2) is recommended to ripen the cervix.