Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2026
Electromyometrial Imaging of Uterine Contractions in Pregnant Women
Published on: May 26, 2023
Comparing uterine electromyography activity of antepartum patients versus term labor patients
Robert E Garfield1, William L Maner, Lyn B MacKay
1Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77555-1062, USA. rgarfiel@utmb.edu
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to compare uterine electromyography of patients delivering>24 hours from measurement with laboring patients
Study Design:
Fifty patients (group 1: labor, n=24; group 2: antepartum, n=26) were monitored using transabdominal electrodes. Group 2 was recorded at several gestations. Uterine electrical "bursts" were analyzed by power-spectrum from 0.34 to 1.00 Hz. Average power density spectrum (PDS) peak frequency for each patient was plotted against gestational age, and compared between group 1 and group 2. Frequency was partitioned into 6 bins, and associated burst histograms compared.
Results:
Group 1 was significantly higher than group 2 for gestational age (39.87+/-1.08 vs 32.96+/-4.26 weeks) and average PDS peak frequency (0.51+/-0.10 vs 0.40+/-.03 Hz). Histograms were significantly different. A correlation coefficient of .41, with significance, was found with PDS vs gestation.
Conclusion:
Uterine electromyography in antepartum patients is significantly lower than in laboring patients delivering