J Menopausal Med.  2015 Apr;21(1):41-46. 10.6118/jmm.2015.21.1.41.

A Pilot Study of the Impacts of Menopause on the Anogenital Distance

• Lee D
• Kim TH
• Lee HH
• Kim JM
• Jeon DS
• Kim YS

• KMID: 2201021
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.6118/jmm.2015.21.1.41

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
It has been known that there is a difference in anogenital distance (AGD) in the animals and newborn depending on the exposure of androgenic hormones. The anatomical changes occur in the female genitalia in women after menopause. This was pilot study to find out whether the menopause affects AGD.
METHODS
We evaluated a total of 50 women targeted for premenopausal and postmenopausal group in each 25 people. AGD was defined as a length between the posterior commissure of labia and anal center. AGD was measured in lithotomy position using sterile paper ruler. In order to control bias of the height and weight, which could influence the AGD, anogenital index (AGI) is defined as the weight divided by the AGD value. We used a Mann-Whitney U test to analyze the relationship between AGD and menopause for statistical analysis.
RESULTS
AGD was significantly longer in premenopausal women compared to postmenopausal women (34.8 +/- 6.4 vs. 30.3 +/- 6.6, P = 0.019). AGI was significantly higher in premenopausal women than postmenopausal women (1.7 +/- 0.4 vs. 1.3 +/- 0.3, P < or = 0.000).
CONCLUSION
The changes of AGD and AGI in postmenopausal women demonstrated to have potential to be used as on scale predicting the physical changes that may occur after menopause. This study could be used as the cornerstone of a large-scale studies in the future.

Keyword

Anogenital distance; Menopause; Perineum

MeSH Terms

Animals
Bias (Epidemiology)
Female
Genitalia, Female
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Menopause*
Perineum
Pilot Projects*

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Measurement of anogenital distance (AGD), AGD is defined by distance between the posterior commussure of labia and anus. AGD was measured in lithotomy position. AGD: anogenital distance, AGI: anogenital index, BMI: body mass index.

• 

  Fig. 2 Anogenital distance (AGD) and anogenital index (AGI) in pre- and postmenopausal women (n = 25 in each group).

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