A brief history of intrauterine pressure measurement.

In 1861 the development of obstetrical forceps to measure the degree of uterine expulsive forces gave impetus to investigations of uterine physiology. Although many methods were devised, the intrauterine balloon, used in the first successful attempt to evaluate activity of the gravid uterus in 1872, remained the standard by which other methods were judged. Alternate methods (such as the open catheter technique, hysterosalpingography, electrouterography, and external hysterography) were limited by cumbersome equipment, inaccurate gauges, difficulty in construction, excessive uterine irritation, and restriction of patient movement. A century of technological improvements in the intrauterine balloon and transducers made possible pioneering work in understanding the activity of the nongravid uterus, the concept of the rhythm method of birth control, carbon dioxide in the determination of tubal patency, and hormonal effects on reproduction and ovulation. Finally, understanding uterine contractile malfunction has given rise to the rational treatment of patients with dysmenorrhea.