Hydrometra

HYDROMETRA (from Greek hydor-water and metra-uterus), hydrops of the uterus, accumulation of mucous-serous or (rarely) honey-like fluid in the uterine cavity. It arises from closure or narrowing of the outlet pathways, namely, most often of the cervical canal in the area of the internal or external os. The closure or narrowing of the canal occurs either on the basis of so-called atresias (see), or in connection with the development of polyps, tumors in the canal lumen, or in connection with the presence of foreign bodies. The accumulating fluid represents the product of secretion of the uterine glands, usually being transparent or slightly cloudy depending on the admixture of epithelial cells; sometimes an admixture of leukocytes is found in the fluid, especially in cases where H. develops from pyometra. The quantity of fluid usually does not exceed several cubic cm. Hydrometra is most often observed in elderly or senile age, after the onset of climacteric (H. vetularum). Since in this period uterine bleeding (so-called apoplexy of the uterus) may occur, e.g., in severe general diseases, especially in the agonal period, it often turns out that the fluid in H. contains an admixture of blood, resembling so-called haematometra (see) in menstruating women. The practical significance of H. is small; in most cases it is an incidental finding at autopsy. Hydrometra senilis, see Climax.