Myometrial contractility in relation to gestational age.

<p>Plot of spontaneous contractile activity (quantified as integral force of contraction/area under the contraction curve, AUC) of strips of myometrium obtained from women (n = 58) undergoing Caesarean section (CS) delivery against gestational age. Spearman's rank test found a significant negative correlation between force integral and gestational age (<i>r</i> = −0.478, <i>P</i><0.01). Pre-labour CS women are denoted by open squares and CS in labour women are denoted by open triangles. Dotted vertical line indicates postdates delivery (≥41weeks⁺³ days).