Establishing Reference Values for Vaginal Vestibule Elastography in Healthy Postmenopausal Women.

Abstract

Objective This study aims to establish normative elastography values for the vaginal vestibule in healthy postmenopausal women and assess the variability of these values with age and measurement time during the day. Methods The study included 111 women aged 40-90, excluding those with medical histories or treatments affecting vaginal health. Elastography measurements were taken twice daily, between 9-10 AM and 3-4 PM, using real-time tissue elastography technology. Statistical analysis evaluated the effects of age, body mass index (BMI), and diurnal variation on vaginal vestibule elasticity. Results A significant positive correlation between age and elastography values was found (p=8.36×10⁻⁷), with elastography values increasing by approximately 0.0040 units per year. The mean elastography value was 28.32% (SD=5.87%) in the morning and 28.10% (SD=5.90%) in the afternoon, with a statistically significant difference (p=0.016). BMI showed a weak negative correlation with elastography values (r=-0.2021, p=0.0334). Conclusion Establishing reference values for vaginal vestibule elastography provides a foundation for improved diagnostic accuracy and early detection of gynecological conditions. The findings support the use of elastography as a non-invasive, reliable diagnostic tool in clinical practice. Future research should validate these results across different age groups and in women with specific gynecological conditions to further solidify the clinical applicability of vaginal vestibule elastography.