Cervix Changes Across the Dog's Cycle

The cervix is a key player in the dog's reproductive cycle. It's a part of the female reproductive system. It's a tube that connects the uterus to the vagina. It's important to understand how it changes during different stages of the cycle. This helps in managing reproductive health. A recent study looked into this using ultrasound techniques. These techniques are not commonly used for this purpose. The study focused on how the cervix's structure and consistency change during the dog's cycle. The study involved 35 female dogs. They were observed during five stages of their cycle: pro-oestrus, pre-ovulatory oestrus, peri-ovulatory oestrus, dioestrus, and anoestrus. To figure out which stage the dog was in, researchers measured progesterone levels. They also looked for specific clinical signs, and used vaginoscopy and cytology. These are methods to examine the vagina and its cells. The researchers measured the cervix's length and diameter. They also used a technique called elastography. This measures the stiffness of tissues. The elastographic index (ElI) and elastographic ratio (ElR) were calculated. These values help compare the cervix's stiffness to the surrounding tissue. The findings were interesting. The cervix was longer and wider during the pre-ovulatory and peri-ovulatory stages. This makes sense because the cervix needs to be more open to allow sperm to enter. The elastographic index was higher in anoestrus and dioestrus. This means the cervix is stiffer during these stages. It's softer during pro-oestrus and pre-ovulatory oestrus. This shows that the cervix's consistency changes with hormonal influences. The study shows that elastography can be a useful tool. It can help quantify the cervix's tissue consistency. This provides a new way to understand reproductive health. It's a novel approach that could lead to better diagnostic methods. It's important to note that the study had a small sample size. More research is needed to confirm these findings. However, the results are promising. They suggest that elastography could be a valuable addition to veterinary medicine.