1. Vaginal Thickness Measurements:
A New Diagnostic Tool
Theresa Sheen
Balica A MD, Egan S, Lu, CW PhD, and Bachmann G MD
Women’s Health Institute
Purpose
Significance
Methodology
Outcomes
Evaluation
Acknowledgements
To use vaginal thickness measurement
as an alternative diagnostic tool for
women experiencing sudden changes
with their pelvic floor.
• Vaginal dryness, pain, and/or
irritation, are due to a thinning vaginal
wall.
• Age of the vaginal epithelium is
measured by using “maturation index.”
• The levels of different squamous
cells found in the maturation index will
vary depending on the time of the
cytology exam.
• The maturation index requires
laboratory procedures for analysis.
• Cellular composition readings can be
misleading.
• Of the sample participants (n=40),
there was a decrease in total vaginal
wall thickness.
• 33 women (82.5%) had their last
menstrual cycles within the last month of
their ultrasound evaluation.
• 26 women (65%) visited the clinic for
some form of irregular bleeding.
• Total vaginal thickness can be an
indicator of reproductive aging.
• Vaginal thickness better correlates
with young age and better pelvic
health.
• Surveys could be given to healthcare
workers to measure how effective
they believe abdominal ultrasounds
are in comparison to using maturation
index.
• I would like to thank Dr. Gloria
Bachmann, my preceptor, Ann Marie
Hill, and Dr. Chi Wei Lu for their
guidance throughout my internship.
0
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4
6
8
10
12
14
16
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20 30 40 50
Vaginal Thickness
Total Vaginal Thickness V. Epithelium Thickness Endometrial Lining Thickness
Linear (Total Vaginal Thickness) Linear (V. Epithelium Thickness) Linear (Endometrial Lining Thickness)
The vaginal wall
thickness of 42
women, with
ages ranging
from 22-56,
were taken
through the use
of ultrasound.
All women
recruited agreed
to take a vaginal
swab, for
maturation
index, and
ultrasounds.
Averages for
vaginal
thickness and
vaginal swabs in
each age group
were calculated
and graphed.
Photo Credits:
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