ROLE OF UTERINE ARTERY DOPPLER INDICES IN NON-PREGNANT FEMALES WITH ABNORMAL MENSTRUAL CYCLE

Abstract

Background: Abnormal menstrual cycles are common in reproductive-aged women and may result from structural or functional causes. While gray scale ultrasound detects structural abnormalities, it cannot assess uterine blood flow. Uterine artery Doppler helps evaluate hemodynamic changes through indices like PI, RI, and S/D ratio, improving the understanding of menstrual irregularities, especially in conditions like PCOS and oligomenorrhea.

Objective: To evaluate role of uterine artery doppler indices in non-pregnant females with abnormal menstrual cycle.

Methodology: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at DHQ Hospital, Bahawalnagar, over a period of four months. A total of 77 non-pregnant females with menstrual irregularities (amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, metrorrhagia, menorrhagia, polymenorrhea, and

hypomenorrhea). Pregnant, menopausal, postpartum females, and those with uterine pathology or prior hysterectomy were excluded. Uterine artery Doppler indices were assessed using a LOGIQ P5 ultrasound machine with a 7–10 MHz transducer

Results: The study assessed uterine artery Doppler indices in non-pregnant women with abnormal menstrual cycles, correlating findings with clinical and ultrasound features. Gray scale ultrasound identified structural abnormalities but could not fully explain functional causes of irregular menstruation. Most participants were reproductive-aged, married, and a significant number had infertility and irregular cycles. Common conditions included oligomenorrhea and PCOS, with many women experiencing moderate to heavy bleeding and pelvic pain. Ultrasound findings showed PCOS as the most frequent diagnosis, though many had normal uterine morphology. Doppler indices (PI, RI, S/D ratio) revealed variations in uterine blood flow and vascular resistance. Overall, abnormal menstrual cycles were associated with altered uterine hemodynamics not always detectable on gray scale imaging.

Conclusion: Uterine artery Doppler indices are effective in identifying changes in uterine blood flow in non-pregnant women with abnormal menstrual cycles. These hemodynamic alterations may not be detected on gray scale ultrasound alone, highlighting the added value of Doppler assessment. Therefore, uterine artery Doppler can serve as a useful complementary tool alongside conventional imaging for better evaluation of menstrual irregularities.