Title: Vaginal pH as a cheap, easy and good tool of diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis, menopausal status and monitoring the effect of hormone replacement therapy on the menopausal women.

POPLINE Document Number: 277019

Author(s):

Helal AM
Ali EI
Osman KS

Source citation:

Egyptian Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1999 Jul-Sep;25(7-9):577-585.

Abstract:

Aim of the Study: The purpose of the study is to determine the value of use of level of vaginal pH in diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis, menopausal Status and in monitoring the effect of hormone replacement therapy in menopausal women. Study design: Vaginal pH levels were determined in 250 patients from the attendants of outpatient clinic El Minia university hospital using the phenophthazine (Nitrazine paper. All the patients were exposed for speculum examination and were not pregnant. Vaginal cultures were done for 50 premenopausal women under aerobic conditions. Determination of the level of estradiol and FSH in serum of 25 premenopausal and 25 of menopausal women was done for correlation with vaginal pH levels in absence of vaginal complaints. Ten menopausal women were exposed for determination of the vaginal pH value before and after starting a course of hormone replacement therapy in the form of prempack/c (conjugated estrogen and norgestrel) for two months. Statistical analysis using the chi-square, the mean value, the P value and the standard deviation was setting in El Minia university hospital. Results: Vaginal pH was elevated in all patients with bacterial vaginosis and the pH varied from 5.0- 5.9. Serum estradiol levels showed an inverse relationship with vaginal pH while serum FSH showed a direct relationship with the level of vaginal pH in absence of bacterial vaginosis. In the presence of hormone replacement therapy, vaginal pH showed a marked decrease after previous elevation in menopausal women. This decrease was statistically significant. Conclusion: Measurement of vaginal pH is an easy, effective and nearly costless method for diagnosis of bacterial diagnosis and the occurrence of menopausal status in absence of bacterial vaginosis or vaginitis. A vaginal pH of 4.5 is consistent with a premenopausal serum estradiol level and the absence of bacterial vaginal pathogens. An elevated vaginal pH in the range of 5 - 6.9 suggests the diagnosis of vaginal pathogens in premenopausal women. A level of vaginal pH of 5 - 6.5 in absence of bacterial vaginosis suggests decreased level of estradiol, elevated level of FSH and occurrence of the menopause. Vaginal pH can be used as a method of monitoring the effect of hormone replacement therapy in menopausal women. (author's)

Keywords:

Egypt
Research Report
Clinical Research
Case Control Studies
Women in Development
Vaginosis
Menopause
Bacterial and Fungal Diseases
Monitoring
Laboratory Examinations and Diagnoses
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Estradiol
Follicle Stimulating Hormone
Africa, Northern
Africa
Developing Countries
Research Methodology
Studies
Economic Development
Economic Factors
Vaginal Abnormalities
Diseases
Reproduction
Infections
Evaluation
Examinations and Diagnoses
Treatment
Estrogens
Hormones
Endocrine System
Physiology
Biology
Gonadotropins, Pituitary
Gonadotropins