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Measurement of the vaginal wall thickness by transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasound of women with vaginal laxity: a cross-sectional study

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

An objective diagnostic method to understand vaginal laxity (VL) is still missing. The aim of our study is to determine whether vaginal wall thickness (VWT) measured by ultrasound may differ according to the abdominal or vaginal techniques and to assess whether clinical variables are associated with vaginal measurements of women with VL.

Methods

A cross-sectional study conducted at a tertiary hospital included 82 women aged ≥ 18 years with VL complaints assessed by the Vaginal Laxity Questionnaire. Women who reported severe comorbidities or vulvovaginal disorders, previous treatment for VL, and use of vaginal estrogen in the last 6 months were excluded. Participants reporting VL underwent transabdominal (TAUS) and transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) and physical examination and answered validated questionnaires. Descriptive data were given as mean and standard deviation, median (range), and absolute and relative frequency. The significance level adopted for this study was 5%. Sample size calculation was not performed for the present study.

Results

Mean age was 41.20 ± 8.64 years, and most participants were multiparous, with previous vaginal delivery and having vaginal intercourse. A statistically significant difference (up to 3 mm) between TAUS and TVUS measurements of the VWT was found in the proximal, middle-third, and distal compartments. A significant correlation was found between VWT and TAUS or TVUS in the mid-third and distal compartments.

Conclusion

A significant correlation was found between the VWT measurements in TVUS and TAUS. Our findings might give the health professional more possibilities for investigating VWT according to patient characteristics.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Dr. Rodrigo Menezes Jales for the administrative support, Dr. Helymar Machado, for the statistical analysis, and the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) for the support given to our study.

Funding

First author: Scholarship Grant 2019/26723-5, São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP). The remaining authors reported no disclosures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Rua Alexander Fleming, 101-Cidade Universitária-Campinas, São Paulo, 13083-881, Brazil

    Glaucia Miranda Varella Pereira, Cassia Raquel Teatin Juliato & Luiz Gustavo Oliveira Brito

  2. Division of Imaging, Women’s Hospital-Professor Doutor José Aristodemo Pinotti-CAISM-University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Campinas, Brazil

    Cristiane Martins de Almeida, Isabella Salvetti Valente & Kleber Cursino de Andrade

Authors
  1. Glaucia Miranda Varella Pereira
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  2. Cassia Raquel Teatin Juliato
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  3. Cristiane Martins de Almeida
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  4. Isabella Salvetti Valente
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  5. Kleber Cursino de Andrade
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  6. Luiz Gustavo Oliveira Brito
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Contributions

GMVP: Protocol/project development; Data collection or management; Data analysis; Manuscript writing/editing

CRTJ: Protocol/project development; Data collection or management; Data analysis; Manuscript writing/editing

CMA: Data collection or management; Data analysis; Manuscript writing/editing

ISV: Data collection or management; Data analysis

KCA: Data collection or management; Data analysis

LGOB: Protocol/project development; Data collection or management; Data analysis; Manuscript writing/editing

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Correspondence to Luiz Gustavo Oliveira Brito.

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Pereira, G.M.V., Juliato, C.R.T., de Almeida, C.M. et al. Measurement of the vaginal wall thickness by transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasound of women with vaginal laxity: a cross-sectional study. Int Urogynecol J 33, 3563–3572 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-022-05184-8

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