Korean J Urol.  2009 Jan;50(1):28-32. 10.4111/kju.2009.50.1.28.

Comparison of Urethral Length and Anterior Vaginal Wall Thickness between Continent and Incontinent Women

• Choi JD
• Koh SB
• Kim DY

• KMID: 2140110
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4111/kju.2009.50.1.28

Abstract

PURPOSE
Few studies are available on the role of female urethral length (UL) and anterior vaginal wall thickness (AVWT) in stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of characterization of female UL and AVWT associated with SUI.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Between May 2006 and October 2006, a total of 53 women with or without SUI were included in this study. Twenty-three women with SUI and 30 healthy volunteers serving as controls underwent transvaginal ultrasound with use of a 7.5MHz transrectal probe. Measurement comprised UL and three portions of AVWT classified as proximal, middle, and distal according to the location against the urethra.
RESULTS
The women's median age was 51.1 (range: 30-73) years. The UL (mm, mean+/-SD) was significantly shorter in women with SUI than in women without SUI (28.7+/-2.8 vs 31.2+/-4.5, respectively, p=0.02). The AVWT of women with SUI (mm, mean+/-SD) was 16.2+/-2.8 in the proximal, 10.7+/-1.9 in the middle, and 9.3+/-2.0 in the distal portion, and those of women without SUI were 16.8+/-3.2, 10.1+/-1.8, and 6.9+/-1.3, respectively. Distal AVWT was significantly thicker in women with SUI than in women without SUI (p=0.01). There were no significant differences in AVWT or UL between pre- and postmenopausal women. A significant positive correlation was found between advancing in age and decrease in UL (p=0.03). Body mass index and parity showed no correlation with UL or any AVWT (p>0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that women with shorter UL and thicker distal AVWT are likely to have SUI. Furthermore, UL was shorter in older women.

Keyword

Urethra; Vaginal wall; Stress urinary incontinence

MeSH Terms

Body Mass Index
Female
Humans
Parity
Urethra
Urinary Incontinence

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Urethral length and anterior vaginal wall thickness by transvaginal ultrasonography. L: urethral length, P: proximal anterior vaginal wall thickness, M: middle anterior vaginal wall thickness, D: distal anterior vaginal wall thickness.

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