Correlation between vaginal stiffness index and pelvic floor disorder quality-of-life scales

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine if vaginal stiffness index, an in vivo vaginal biomechanical property, is correlated with pelvic floor disorder symptom distress, impact on quality of life, or sexual function as measured by disease-specific quality-of-life scales. Forty-eight women completed validated quality-of-life scales (pelvic floor distress inventory-short form, pelvic floor impact questionnaire, and pelvic organ prolapse/urinary incontinence sexual questionnaire) and underwent in vivo vaginal biomechanical testing. After bivariate relationships between vaginal stiffness index and demographic, obstetric, and gynecologic variables were explored, multiple linear regression controlling for pelvic organ prolapse quantitative (POP-Q) stage of prolapse was performed. The vaginal stiffness index was inversely correlated with pelvic organ prolapse distress severity (POPDI-6) after controlling for POP-Q stage of prolapse (p = 0.011, r = 0.67, r (2) = 0.450, beta = -2.3). These findings provide initial evidence for the construct validity of in vivo vaginal biomechanical testing for pelvic organ prolapse evaluation because an increasing vaginal stiffness index is correlated with decreasing symptomatic and anatomic severity of disease.

Biomechanical Properties of Vaginal Tissue in Women with Pelvic Organ Prolapse

“…The ideal measurement of the biomechanical properties would be done in in vivo conditions. Tissue suction and indentation techniques constitute non-destructive and less invasive tests that have been used to evaluate the mechanical properties of human tissues [20,21]. …”

Exploring biomechanical methods to study the human vaginal wall

“…Epstein et al compared vaginal biomechanical property measurements for women with pelvic organ prolapse with patients with normal vaginal support . Tissue extensibility was measured with a cutometer‐like device (Dermalab) with a 10 mm orifice.…”

Vaginal Tissue Properties versus Increased Intra-Abdominal Pressure: A Preliminary Biomechanical Study

“…Some limitations of the present study can be remarked since the ideal measurement of the biomechanical properties would be done in in vivo conditions [27,28]. Despite some attempts, this conceptualization of the ‘ideal conditions’ does not provide enough information for an adequate engineering modeling and simulation of biological structures.…”