Ontogenetic features of sonographic indicators of the uterus in acrobats of the ukrainian ethnic group

Abstract

Іntroduction: The absence of diagnostic of the female sex organs in time can lead to serious disoders of the female athletes’ reproductive system. There is few information in the literature about morphological evolution of the female sex organs, in particular, the uterusunder the influence of sports. The aim: To determine the peculiarities of linear sonographic dimensions of the uterus, its position and shape in the acrobats of the Ukrainian ethnic group of high level of sportsmanship in different periods of puberty. Materials and methods:122 acrobats of high level of sportsmanship and 126 girls who have not played sports wereexamined.The girls’ passport age was between 8 and 21 years old. In order to determine belonging to the Ukrainian ethnic group, all surveyed girls were given questionnaires where they were required to indicate the nationality and place of birth of their parents and grandparents. All girls were devided into three groups according to their biological age: athletes of prepubertal period of ontogenesis, duting puberty and athletes of postpubertal period of ontogenesis. Internal sex organs of all girls were examined by ultrasound diagnostic system of expert class Voluson 730 Pro (ATL, Austria) using a convex sensor RAB2-5L. The uterus was examined by the following program: determined its position and shape and 3 linear dimensions (length, width and thickness). The analysis of the obtained results was carried out in the licensed package Statistica 5.5 using nonparametric methods of estimation of indicators. Results:The monitoring of the growth and development of the uterus in different ontogenetic periods in acrobats and women who are not involved in sports was analysed. We found, that the length of the uterus at all stages of puberty in acrobats was significantly less than in the girls of the control group. The width of the uterus was statistically significantly smaller in female athletes in the pre- and post-pubertal periods, and in puberty. The thickness of the uterus under the influence of acrobatic sports activity does not undergo significant changes in all periods of ontogeny. Conclusions:Features of competitive activity in sports acrobatics as well as the result of sports selection lead to the delay of sexual development and, as a consequence, to the retardation of development of the uterus in all periods of puberty.