Assesing The Thickness Of Vaginal Wall And Vaginal Mucosa In Early Adolescent, Newly-Married Young Adult And Postmenopausal Women By Transabdominal Ultrasound
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Abstract
Background Similar to the uterine endometrium, the thickness of the vaginal wall varies in response to oestrogen levels. Numerous studies have reported a reduction in vaginal thickness during menopause. However, there is a dearth of published research on the ultrasonic evaluation of vault thickness. The study's objective is to use transabdominal sonography to assess and compare the thickness of the vaginal mucosa and wall in postmenarcheal teenagers, recently married women, and postmenopausal female individuals.
Materials and methods The vaginal wall and mucosal thickness (VWT and VMT, respectively) of 188 female participants who underwent abdominal ultrasonography for routine/baseline studies or for trivial abdominal symptoms were analysed based on their ultrasound findings over a three-month period.
Results A total of 188 female participants were examined. Of these, 48 belonged to the postmenarcheal adolescent age range (12–15 years), 66 were young adult subjects (20–25 years), and 74 were postmenopausal women (50–75 years). Between the three groups, statistically significant variations in VWT and VMT were observed. For adolescents who had just come of age, the VMT and VVT were 0.8-1.5 mm and 6.2-8.1 mm, respectively. For female patients who had recently tied the knot, the VMT and VVT were 0.9-2.5 mm and 7.8-21.4 mm, respectively. For postmenopausal subjects, the respective VMT and VVT were 0.4-0.8 mm and 4.4-6.8 mm.
Conclusion According to the study, the thickness of the mucosa and wall reaches its peak in the early stages of adulthood, minimal in the postmenopausal phase, and intermediate in the early stages of adolescence. Sexual activity may have an aetiologic function in the rise in wall and mucosal thickness in young newly-married females. Vaginal blood flow, mucosal congestion, the function of oestrogens, other hormones and variables are likely to blame.