Breast Stimulation Contraction Stress Test: Uterine Contractions in the Absence of Oxytocin Release

Abstract
The contraction stress test has been widely used to manage high-risk pregnancies. Breast-stimulated uterine contractions have been assumed to be mediated through oxytocin release. We studied 20 women undergoing a breast-stimulated contraction stress test. There was no significant increase in plasma oxytocin levels during this study in either test responders or nonresponders. These results suggest that the presence of a breast stimulation-uterine contraction reflex is not mediated by oxytocin.

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