[Uterine growth in the endometrium active phase]

Paediatric and adolescent gynaecology still lacks normal values for the size of the uterus from the post partum period up to early puberty. The relevant literature fails to provide reliable information concerning this subject. Anatomical studies by ultrasound yielded controversial results. We have performed a morphometric study on a random sample of corpses and found a longitudinal growth of the uterus of about 10 mm during the period of dormant endometrium i.e. between the first and eleventh year of life. During the 12th to the 14th year we found an accelerated growth, amounting to altogether 20-30 mm. A shift in the cervix-corpus proportions as reported previously was not observed. However, the longitudinal growth, as well as the distance between the portio and fundus, which is clinically more important, seemed to correlate with the girl's body weight and height. The broadwise growth correlated with the girl's age. These observations allow us to speculate on the organ's options for further differentiation, especially during the post partum period and to evaluate the effect of early puberty on the increment of uterine size.