Equine Reproduction and Stud Medicine Q&A 06

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A 12-year-old multiparous barren mare failed to become pregnant the previous breeding season. Examination of the genital tract reveals a mature follicle present, an open cervix and a slightly distended uterus which, on palpation, expresses air out through the vulvar lips. Speculum examination revealed a reddened and relaxed cervix with air bubbles intermixed in a clear thin watery discharge.

Question	Answer		Article
What clinical conditions may exist?	Acute and chronic endometritis, pneumovagina, urine pooling and an incompetent cervix.		[[|Link to Article]]
What physical changes might be detected on clinical examination which indicate a possible cause of the infertility?	(1) Poor conformation of the vulva and anus; (2) the presence of air bubbles in the vaginal and/or uterine mucous indicates the possibility of pneumovagina; (3) careful manual exploration may indicate injury to the cervix; (4) ballooning of the anterior vagina may indicate both pneumovagina or urine pooling; (5) palpation and speculum examination to determine the location of the urethral opening and of downward displacement of the cervix and anterior vagina anterior to the pelvic brim.		[[|Link to Article]]
Do you regard this mare’s vulva conformation to be a contributing factor to her infertility?	Yes.		[[|Link to Article]]
What importance is attached to the level of the pelvic brim in relation to the vulva?	The high level of the pelvic brim in relation to the vulva maintains an almost vertical vulva. A low pelvic brim may cause the vulva to tend to a horizontal position.		[[|Link to Article]]