Female Reproductive Biofluids: A Uterine Contraction Flow Model for Embryo Transport

Reproductive biofluid mechanics, an emerging field, addresses challenging and complex flow physics problems, including fluid-tissue interactions at various scales. Most current research in this area focuses on the initial stages of reproduction and the transport phenomena during the fertilization process. Specifically, researchers study how sperm travels from the vaginal canal, through the cervix, into the uterus, and to the fallopian tube, where it meets the released ovum. For a successful pregnancy, the pre-embryo (fertilized ovum) must travel back into the uterus and implant in the uterine wall. Unlike sperm, which propels itself, the ovum or embryo is passively transported by the movement of tidal fluid induced by contractions of the female reproductive tract wall. In this study, we propose a mathematical model to describe the induced flow motion within a finite-length tube. This model is then used to simulate intrauterine flow patterns and ovum transport phenomena resulting from various observed rhythmic wall contractions in the uterus.