Ultrasonographic measurement of vaginal thickness: Relation to menopausal status and genitourinary syndrome of menopause

• Published in: The journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research 2022-11, Vol.48 (11), p.2911-2917
• Main Authors: Türk, Sema, Ertürk Coşkun, Ayşe D., Vural, Fisun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aging; Menopause; pH effects; Post-menopause; Ultrasonic imaging; ultrasonography; Vagina; vaginal atrophy; vaginal thickness
• ISSN: 1341-8076; 1447-0756
• DOI: 10.1111/jog.15368

Objective To compare the total vaginal wall thickness (TVT) and total mucosal thickness (TMT) measurements of premenopausal and postmenopausal women measured by ultrasonography and to determine the association of these measurements to findings and symptoms of genitourinary syndrome of menopause Methods Healthy volunteers, 80 postmenopausal and 80 premenopausal, were included. Ultrasonographic TVT and TMT measurements, vaginal health index (VHI) scores and pH values were recorded. The daily impact of vaginal aging (DIVA) scale was administered to women in the postmenopausal group. Results TVT measurements of the postmenopausal group (6.55 ± 2.00 mm) were lower than the premenopausal group (10.37 ± 2.11 mm) (p: 0.000). TMT measurements of the postmenopausal group (1.46 ± 0.50 mm) were lower than the premenopausal group (2.19 ± 0.60 mm) (p: 0.000). The VHI scores of the postmenopausal group were significantly lower than the premenopausal group, the pH value was higher (p  0.05). Conclusions TVT and TMT measurements in postmenopausal women are significantly lower than premenopausal women. Examination findings and thickness measurements are correlated. Transabdominal ultrasonography is a method that can be used in the evaluation of vaginal thickness which is not painful for the patient, is easy to apply and gives results consistent with the examination findings. However, measurements and examination findings do not correlate with the DIVA scores in postmenopausal women.