Assessing the thickness of the vaginal wall and vaginal mucosa in pre-menopausal versus post-menopausal women by transabdominal ultrasound: A feasibility study

Balica, Adrian; Wald-Spielman, Daniella; Schertz, Katherine; Egan, Susan; Bachmann, Gloria

doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2017.02.017

Cited by 20 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…As anticipated, uterine mass was also severely reduced by OVX, which was mirrored by uterine luminal epithelial cell height ( Fig. 1f – h ), a marker of GSM ( Balica et al, 2017 ; Kim et al, 2015 ). 17α-E2 also prevented OVX-mediated decreases in uterine tissue, which is consistent with other studies in both young and middle-aged mice ( Strong et al, 2016 ).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 77%

17α-Estradiol prevents ovariectomy-mediated obesity and bone loss

Mann

Pitel

Nelson-Holte

et al. 2020

Experimental Gerontology

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Menopause is a natural physiological process in older women that is associated with reduced estrogen production and results in increased risk for obesity, diabetes, and osteoporosis. 17α-estradiol (17α-E2) treatment in males, but not females, reverses several metabolic conditions associated with advancing age, highlighting sexually dimorphic actions on age-related pathologies. In this study we sought to determine if 17α-E2 could prevent ovariectomy (OVX)-mediated detriments on adiposity and bone parameters in females. Eight-week-old female C57BL/6J mice were subjected to SHAM or OVX surgery and received dietary 17α-E2 during a six-week intervention period. We observed that 17α-E2 prevented OVX-induced increases in body weight and adiposity. Similarly, uterine weight and luminal cell thickness were decreased by OVX and prevented by 17α-E2 treatment. Interestingly, 17α-E2 prevented OVX-induced declines in tibial metaphysis cancellous bone. And similarly, 17α-E2 improved bone density parameters in both tibia and femur cancellous bone, primarily in OVX mice. In contrast, to the effects on cancellous bone, cortical bone parameters were largely unaffected by OVX or 17α-E2. In the non-weight bearing lumbar vertebrae, OVX reduced trabecular thickness but not spacing, while 17α-E2 increased trabecular thickness and reduced spacing. Despite this, 17α-E2 did improve bone volume/tissue volume in lumbar vertebrae. Overall, we found that 17α-E2 prevented OVX-induced increases in adiposity and changes in bone mass and architecture, with minimal effects in SHAM-operated mice. We also observed that 17α-E2 rescued uterine tissue mass and lining morphology to control levels without inducing hypertrophy, suggesting that 17α-E2 could be considered as an adjunct to traditional hormone replacement therapies.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 77%

17α-Estradiol prevents ovariectomy-mediated obesity and bone loss

Mann

Pitel

Nelson-Holte

et al. 2020

Experimental Gerontology

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“…Pelvic Floor Muscle Morphometry (PFMM) and Vaginal Thickness (VT): the morphometry of the pelvic floor muscles will be assessed during rest, during contraction of the pelvic floor muscles, and during the Valsalva maneuver [ 51 ]. The vaginal thickness will be assessed in its proximal, middle, and distal third using two approaches—transabdominal and transvaginal [ 52 , 53 ]. The equipment used for transabdominal, transvaginal and transperineal ultrasound measurements will be the GE Voluson 730 Expert® (GE Medical System Kretz-Technik GmbH and Co OHG, Zipf, Austria).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Measurements will be performed at rest, Valsalva maneuver, and pelvic floor muscle contraction with the patient in the supine position [ 51 ] for the angle of the levator plate, the anorectal angle, the thickness of the levator ani muscle, and the area of the levator hiatus in cm 2 . For vaginal thickness, probes 4C-D 2 at 5 MHz transabdominal and 5 to 9 MHz transvaginal will be used to measure the vagina in its proximal, middle, and distal thirds [ 52 , 53 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of radiofrequency and pelvic floor muscle training in the treatment of women with vaginal laxity: A study protocol

et al. 2021

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Background Vaginal laxity is an underreported condition that negatively affects women’s sexual function and their relationships. Evidence-based studies are needed to better understand this complaint and to discuss its treatment options. Thus, we present a study protocol to compare the effect of radiofrequency and pelvic floor muscle training in the treatment of women with complaints of vaginal laxity. Methods/Design This is a prospective, parallel-group, two-arm, randomized clinical trial (Registry: RBR-2zdvfp–REBEC). Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two groups of intervention (Radiofrequency or Pelvic Floor Muscle Training). The study will be performed in the Urogynecology outpatient clinic and in the physiotherapy outpatient clinic at the State University of Campinas–UNICAMP and will include women aged ≥ 18 years and with self-reported complaints of vaginal laxity. Participants will be assessed at baseline (pre-intervention period) and will be followed up in two periods: first follow-up (30 days after intervention) and second follow-up (six months after intervention). Expected results The results of this randomized clinical trial will have a positive impact on the participants’ quality of life, as well as add value to the development of treatment options for women with complaints of vaginal laxity. Trial registration Registry: RBR-2zdvfp–Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos–REBEC (19/02/2020).

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“…10 Subsequently, certain publications have used vaginal wall and vaginal mucosal thickness to predict vaginal atrophy. 11,12 This study aimed to evaluate the use of transabdominal ultrasound and to determine the cutoff values for both transvaginal and transmucosal thickness for predicting VVA which is the most common symptom of GSM, without the requirement for vaginal examination that may cause pain.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…10 Subsequently, certain publications have used vaginal wall and vaginal mucosal thickness to predict vaginal atrophy. 11,12…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transabdominal ultrasonography: A non-invasive method for diagnosing vaginal atrophy

Kanmaz¹,

İnan

Beyan³

et al. 2020

Post Reprod Health

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Objective Genitourinary syndrome of menopause is a definition of all symptoms caused by hypoestrogenemia in menopausal age and one of the most common symptoms is vaginal atrophy. The diagnosis methods which are used for vaginal atrophy may be painful. A novel method total vaginal thickness and total mucosal thickness measuring could be determine vaginal atrophy. Material and methods This is a prospective case–control study involving 60 women in each group of 120 patients. One of the groups is comprised postmenopausal, histopathologically diagnosed vaginal atrophic women and the other group comprised 24–35 aged women who were no symptoms of vaginal atrophy and vaginal swab samples are not compatible with vaginal atrophy. All women who participated in the study underwent transabdominal ultrasound and total vaginal thickness and total mucosal thickness were measured. Results Total vaginal thickness and total mucosal thickness were found lower in the postmenopausal group compared to premenopausal women ( p = 0.005 and p = 0.07, respectively). The cutoff value was determined as 8.55 mm for total vaginal thickness and 1.52 mm for total mucosal thickness, and the diagnostic power of these values is a specificity of 88.89% (95% confidence interval: 51.75–99.72%) and a ppv of 92.86% (95% confidence interval: 66.53–98.84%) for total vaginal thickness and a specificity of 80.95% (95% confidence interval: 58.09–94.55%) and a ppv of 89.47% (95% confidence interval: 71.10–96.71%) for total mucosal thickness. Conclusion Vaginal atrophy is a painful symptom for menopausal women and the diagnostic methods may be invasive and painful too. Total vaginal thickness and total mucosal thickness measuring with transabdominal ultrasound could be an alternative method for diagnosis and treat vaginal atrophy easily.

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Assessing the thickness of the vaginal wall and vaginal mucosa in pre-menopausal versus post-menopausal women by transabdominal ultrasound: A feasibility study

Cited by 20 publications

References 10 publications

17α-Estradiol prevents ovariectomy-mediated obesity and bone loss

17α-Estradiol prevents ovariectomy-mediated obesity and bone loss

Effect of radiofrequency and pelvic floor muscle training in the treatment of women with vaginal laxity: A study protocol

Transabdominal ultrasonography: A non-invasive method for diagnosing vaginal atrophy

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