Biomaterial Database

Palpable uterine artery pulsation as a clinical indicator of early pregnancy. 1995

G R Meeks, and C D Cesare, and G W Bates

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson 39216-4505, USA.

The objective of this study was to determine if palpable uterine artery pulsation is a reliable clinical indicator of pregnancy at less than six weeks' gestation. A preliminary, nonblind study involved 299 women. Of 31 women who were at less than six weeks' gestation, 24 had definite uterine artery pulsations, and 7 did not. Of 268 nonpregnant women, 256 did not have pulsation, while 12 did (P < .001). Because other clinical parameters could bias the interpretation of uterine artery pulsation, a second, blind study was undertaken. During it, 155 patients underwent bimanual examination only, and no other clinical information was available to the examiner. Of 25 women at less than six weeks' gestation, 19 had definite uterine artery pulsation, while 6 did not. Of 130 nonpregnant patients, 121 did not have uterine artery pulsation, while 9 did (P < .001). Palpable uterine artery pulsation seems to be associated with early pregnancy, and physicians should add evaluation of pulsation to their clinical armamentarium.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010173	Palpation	Application of fingers with light pressure to the surface of the body to determine consistence of parts beneath in physical diagnosis; includes palpation for determining the outlines of organs.	Palpations
D011237	Predictive Value of Tests	In screening and diagnostic tests, the probability that a person with a positive test is a true positive (i.e., has the disease), is referred to as the predictive value of a positive test; whereas, the predictive value of a negative test is the probability that the person with a negative test does not have the disease. Predictive value is related to the sensitivity and specificity of the test.	Negative Predictive Value,Positive Predictive Value,Predictive Value Of Test,Predictive Values Of Tests,Negative Predictive Values,Positive Predictive Values,Predictive Value, Negative,Predictive Value, Positive
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011258	Pregnancy Tests	Tests to determine whether or not an individual is pregnant.	Pregnancy Test,Test, Pregnancy,Tests, Pregnancy
D011261	Pregnancy Trimester, First	The beginning third of a human PREGNANCY, from the first day of the last normal menstrual period (MENSTRUATION) through the completion of 14 weeks (98 days) of gestation.	Early Placental Phase,Pregnancy, First Trimester,Trimester, First,Early Placental Phases,First Pregnancy Trimester,First Pregnancy Trimesters,First Trimester,First Trimester Pregnancies,First Trimester Pregnancy,First Trimesters,Phase, Early Placental,Phases, Early Placental,Placental Phase, Early,Placental Phases, Early,Pregnancies, First Trimester,Pregnancy Trimesters, First,Trimesters, First
D011674	Pulse	The rhythmical expansion and contraction of an ARTERY produced by waves of pressure caused by the ejection of BLOOD from the left ventricle of the HEART as it contracts.	Pulses
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001158	Arteries	The vessels carrying blood away from the heart.	Artery
D014599	Uterus	The hollow thick-walled muscular organ in the female PELVIS. It consists of the fundus which is the site of EMBRYO IMPLANTATION and FETAL DEVELOPMENT. Beyond the isthmus at the perineal end of fundus, is CERVIX UTERI (the neck) opening into VAGINA. Beyond the isthmi at the upper abdominal end of fundus, are the FALLOPIAN TUBES.	Fundus Uteri,Uteri,Uterine Cornua,Uterine Fundus,Uterus Cornua,Womb,Cornua, Uterine,Fundus Uterus,Fundus, Uterine,Uteri, Fundus,Wombs