A Uterine Motion Classification in MRI Data for Female Infertility.

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to classify complicated uterine movements obtained by MRI scanner and investigate the relationship between uterine peristalsis and female infertility. METHODS: Uterine movements are classified into six fundamental movements by their motility form and directions. Computer simulation of the uterine movements is performed. RESULTS: Comparison results between the real MRI images and the simulated images showed that any five in our dataset uterine movement was successfully reproduced by a combination of these six fundamental movements. The point and surface vibration model appropriately mimicked the movements with the propagation velocity of 0.68 [mm/sec]. CONCLUSION: By analyzing six fundamental movements using data from 26 MRI scans, it was found that two fundamental movements were identified as candidate factors for female infertility.

Study of uterine kinetics in nonpregnant women using cine-mode magnetic resonance imaging.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the uterine kinetics in each phase of the menstrual cycle when observed in detail using cine-mode magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of sagittal and transverse plane images. METHODS: Seven volunteers with a history of multiple natural pregnancies and deliveries were enrolled from January 2017 to May 2017. The kinetic parameters (depth, frequency, and direction) of uterine muscle contractions were evaluated in cine-mode MRI. RESULTS: Strong contractions from the uterine cornua to cervix were detected during menstruation. In the late follicular phase, the frequency of opposing contractions from the cervix and uterine cornua increased. Immediately before ovulation, contractions from the cervix reached the uterine fundus. After ovulation, opposing contractions returned. These contractions gradually decreased in the mid-luteal phase, while fine contractions from the cervix to the middle of the uterine body were frequently observed until 7 days after ovulation. Few contractions were observed in the implantation phase. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the uterine kinetics change in each phase of the menstrual cycle in accordance with the purpose of the uterus in each phase. Further, cine-mode MRI studies of each phase are needed to assess the relationships between uterine kinetics and infertility.