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Murina F, Barbieri S, Lubrano C, et al. Vestibular Mucosa Thickness Measured by Ultrasound in Patients Affected by Vestibulodynia: A Case-Control Study. Sex Med. 2021;9(2):100320doi: 10.1016/j.esxm.2020.100320.
Murina, F., Barbieri, S., Lubrano, C., & Cetin, I. (2021). Vestibular Mucosa Thickness Measured by Ultrasound in Patients Affected by Vestibulodynia: A Case-Control Study. Sexual medicine, 9(2), 100320. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esxm.2020.100320
Murina, Filippo, et al. "Vestibular Mucosa Thickness Measured by Ultrasound in Patients Affected by Vestibulodynia: A Case-Control Study." Sexual medicine vol. 9,2 (2021): 100320. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esxm.2020.100320
Murina F, Barbieri S, Lubrano C, Cetin I. Vestibular Mucosa Thickness Measured by Ultrasound in Patients Affected by Vestibulodynia: A Case-Control Study. Sex Med. 2021 Apr;9(2):100320. doi: 10.1016/j.esxm.2020.100320. Epub 2021 Feb 13. PMID: 33588370; PMCID: PMC8072142.
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Sex Med. 2021 Apr;9(2):100320. doi: 10.1016/j.esxm.2020.100320. Epub 2021 Feb 13.

Vestibular Mucosa Thickness Measured by Ultrasound in Patients Affected by Vestibulodynia: A Case-Control Study.

Sexual medicine

Filippo Murina, Sara Barbieri, Chiara Lubrano, Irene Cetin

Affiliations

  1. Lower Genital Tract Disease Unit, V. Buzzi Hospital-University of the Study of Milan, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].
  2. Lower Genital Tract Disease Unit, V. Buzzi Hospital-University of the Study of Milan, Milan, Italy.

PMID: 33588370 PMCID: PMC8072142 DOI: 10.1016/j.esxm.2020.100320

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: A multifactorial etiology has been implicated in the development and maintenance of vestibulodynia (VBD), and atrophic changes of the vestibular mucosa have been observed in many patients.

AIM: To assess the vestibular mucosa thickness in patients with VBD by comparing this sample with a control group of healthy fertile women and postmenopausal patients with symptoms of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM).

METHODS: Vestibular mucosa thickness was measured with a 20 MHz ultrasound probe (DermaScan C, Cortex Technology, Denmark), including both the epidermis and dermis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All women were evaluated by anamnesis, physical examination, and self-report symptoms. Thickness of the vestibular mucosa (expressed in micrometers) was determined by the B-mode, excluding the hyperechogenic entrance echo and hypoechogenic subcutis. Clinical data related to VBD and GSM were recorded using a 0- to 10-point visual analog scale related to dyspareunia and vulvar pain/burning (0 = no pain; 10 = worst possible pain).

RESULTS: A total of 85 patients were recruited: 24 with VBD, 20 with GSM-related symptoms, and 20 matched controls. Vestibular mucosa thickness measurements were not significantly different between the VBD (mean ± DS: 1,092.5 ± 226.1 μm) and GSM groups (1,059.7 ± 221.5 μm), while the parameter was significantly lower (P < .01) than the control group (1,310.6 ± 250.0 μm). Correlation analysis in the VBD and GSM groups between low vestibular mucosa thickness and symptom intensity (burning/pain and dyspareunia) showed a significant correlation.

CONCLUSION: Patients with VBD have a vestibular mucosa with a lower thickness than healthy women of the same age, with an almost identical value to that found in postmenopausal women. Furthermore, a low vestibular mucosa thickness in the VBD and GSM groups showed a significant correlation with burning/pain intensity and dyspareunia severity. F Murina, S Barbieri, C Lubrano, MD, et al. Vestibular Mucosa Thickness Measured by Ultrasound in Patients Affected by Vestibulodynia: A Case-Control Study. Sex Med 2021;9:100320.

Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Dyspareunia; High-Frequency Ultrasound; Vestibulodynia; Vulvar Mucosa; Vulvodynia

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