Uterus stereology

Abstract

Infertility is a growing global health problem with important socio-psychological consequences. The main causes of infertility are the pathogenesis of the uterine mucosa and the uterus being unready for implantation as a result of decidualization. Despite the critical importance of the uterus for women's health and fertility, and embryo development, relatively limited information is available concerning the hormonal, cellular, and molecular mechanisms in its pathogenesis. Morphoquantitative assessments are widely used by researchers to explain the underlying causes of infertility. Quantitative evaluations provide more descriptive and precise information when observing structural changes in tissue under different conditions and comparing these between different groups. Design-based stereology provides an accurate and unbiased estimation of stereological parameters, avoiding sources of bias caused by the methodology employed. It is therefore important to use stereological methods when considering a quantitative morphological evaluation of biological objects. This chapter describes the importance of developing and disseminating the use of stereological techniques in uterine research and is intended to explain the modern stereological techniques applied to uterine tissue in methodological terms.