Uterine hyperstimulation or hypertonic uterine dysfunction is a potential complication of

labor induction Labor induction is the process or treatment that stimulates childbirth and delivery. Inducing (starting) labor can be accomplished with pharmaceutical or non-pharmaceutical methods. In Western countries, it is estimated that one-quarter of pregnan ...

. This is displayed as

Uterine tachysystole Uterine Tachysystole is a condition of excessively frequent uterine contractions during pregnancy. It is most often seen in induced or augmented labor, though it can also occur during spontaneous labor, and this may result in fetal hypoxia and ac ...

- the contraction frequency numbering more than five in a 10-minute time frame or as contractions exceeding more than two minutes in duration. Uterine hyperstimulation may result in fetal heart rate abnormalities,

uterine rupture Uterine rupture is when the muscular wall of the uterus tears during pregnancy or childbirth. Symptoms, while classically including increased pain, vaginal bleeding, or a change in contractions, are not always present. Disability or death of the ...

, or

placental abruption Placental abruption is when the placenta separates early from the uterus, in other words separates before childbirth. It occurs most commonly around 25 weeks of pregnancy. Symptoms may include vaginal bleeding, lower abdominal pain, and dangerou ...

. It is usually treated by administering

terbutaline Terbutaline, sold under the brand names Bricanyl and Marex among others, is a β2 adrenergic receptor agonist, used as a "reliever" inhaler in the management of asthma symptoms and as a tocolytic (anti-contraction medication) to delay preterm ...

Causes

* Mistoprostol is a drug treatment for peptic ulcers that can also cause abortion or induce labor. The use of this drug (inserted vaginally) to induce labor can cause uterine hyperstimulation.

Treatment

Treatments of uterine hyperstimulation are primarily experimental. Those that have shown to alleviate the conditions are: * Prostoglandin E₂ is administered before labor to minimize risk of uterine hyperstimulation and to minimize the effects on Fetal Heart Rate. * Administration of

tocolytic Tocolytics (also called anti-contraction medications or labor suppressants) are medications used to suppress premature labor (from Greek τόκος ''tókos'', "childbirth", and λύσις ''lúsis'', "loosening"). Preterm birth accounts for 70% ...

treatment with β2-adrenergic drugs has shown to stabilize uterine contractions while also effectively lowering

Fetal Heart Rate A fetus or foetus (; plural fetuses, feti, foetuses, or foeti) is the unborn offspring that develops from an animal embryo. Following embryonic development the fetal stage of development takes place. In human prenatal development, fetal dev ...

. * The usage of a balloon catheter to induce labor rather than Prostoglandin E₂ lowers the risk of uterine hyperstimulation and its effect on fetal heart rate.

References

* National Collaborating Centre for Women's and Children's Health (UK). Induction of Labour. London: RCOG Press; 2008 Jul. (NICE Clinical Guidelines, No. 70.) 8
Complications of induction of labour
* Jeroen Bosch Hospital, Department of Obstetrics, et al. “Mechanical Methods for Induction of Labor.” US National Public Library, 18 Oct. 2019. * H. Dadi S.C. Patwardhan A. Ikomi D. Ojutiku, "Self‐induction of labour using misoprostol: an unusual case of uterine hyperstimulation". Complications of labour and delivery {{human-repro-stub