Physiology, Pregnancy Contractions

It is important for clinicians to understand the normal physiology of uterine contractions so they can better identify abnormalities that may lead to obstetrical complications, including preterm labor and arrest of labor. Knowing the cellular mechanism of uterine contractions also allows clinicians to better understand pharmacotherapy used for labor augmentation, induction, and tocolysis. Uterine contractions also play an important role in minimizing postpartum bleeding, which explains why many drugs used to treat this complication target pathways involved in myometrial contractility.