Assessing vaginal wall indexes in premenopausal versus postmenopausal women by transrectal linear array high-frequency probe

Abstract

Abstract Objective This study aimed to verify the feasibility of 2D measurement of full-layer thickness of vaginal wall and evaluation of its elasticity by shear wave elastic imaging using transrectal linear array high-frequency ultrasound and to investigate the differences of vaginal wall indexes in premenopausal versus postmenopausal women. Method From September to November 2022, a total of 87 women in the Department of Gynecology, Nanjing First Hospital were examined by a sonographer using transrectal linear array high-frequency ultrasound, including 34 women of reproductive age and 53 postmenopausal women. The vagina was divided into upper, middle, and lower segments, and the full-layer thickness of each part was measured. Then shear wave elastography (SWE) was used, and the average value of Young's modulus was used to evaluate the degree of vaginal elasticity. Results Transrectal linear array high-frequency ultrasound can clearly display structures of vaginal wall; measurement of the full thickness of the vaginal wall and evaluation of the degree of vaginal elasticity were feasible. There was a statistically significant difference in the thickness of each part of the vaginal wall between pre- and postmenopausal women (P < 0.001); there was no significant difference in the vaginal Young's modulus of pre- and postmenopausal women (P = 0.073). Conclusion Transrectal linear array high-frequency ultrasonography is a non-invasive and feasible method to measure vaginal wall thickness (VWT) and elasticity. There are significant differences in VWT between pre- and postmenopausal women.