Real Time Sonographic Assessment of Common Uterine Sizes, Shapes and Positions in Nigerians

Abstract

The uterine dimensions, shapes and positions of 700 subjects made up of premenarche, nulliparous, multiparous and postmenopausal subjects aged between 9 and 88 years were determined by real time transabdominal sonography. Results obtained show that the uterine dimensions in the premenarche are 3.94 +0.74cm, 1.76+0.47cm. and 2.33+0.84cm for the length, thickness and width respectively. In the nulliparous group uterine dimensions are 5.70+0.60cm, 3.30+0.50cm, and 4.10+0.50cm for the length, thickness and width respectively. In the multiparous group the uterine dimensions are 6.90+0.80cm, 4.10+0.70cm, and 4.90+0.80cm for the length, thickness and width respectively. For the postmenopausal group the uterine dimensions are 5.20+0.60cm. 2.80+0.90cm and 3.30+0.70cm for the length, thickness and width respectively. The uterine dimensions were found to vary according to the age, height and weight of the subjects. The incidences of pear-shaped uterus are 234 for premenarche, 99.2% for nulliparous, 95.2 for multiparous and 77% for postmenopausal groups. Tubular uteri were found in 77% and 21% of premenarchal and postmenopausal subjects respectively. Globular uterus occurred only in 0.8%, 4.8% and 25% of nulliparous, multiparous and postmenopausal subjects. The predominant uterine shape is pear except for the premenarche where tubular uterus predominates. Uterine anteversion was seen in 91.0%, 94.8% and 78% of nulliparous, multiparous and postmenopausal subjects. Uterine retroversion occurred in 8.4%, 5.2% and 22% of nulliparous multiparous and postmenopausal subjects. The incidences of dextro rotated uterus are 98.8%, 99.6% and 100% for nulliparous, multiparous and postmenopausal subjects. Levo rotated uteri were found in only 1.2% and 0.4% of nulliparous and multiparous subjects. There is relatively strong positive correlation between the determined uterine dimension and age, height and weight of the subjects. This study has established normal values of uterine dimension in premenarchial, nulliparous, multiparous and postmenopausal women in Nigeria that can be useful in assessing the normality of the uterus in our locality.

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