S Roy1, J C Caillouette, T Roy, J S Faden. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Women's and Children's Hospital, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA. subirro@usc.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This paper is intended to demonstrate whether vaginal pH value is associated with menopausal status and symptoms, to review the sensitivity of follicle-stimulating hormone or vaginal pH to diagnose menopause, to compare these findings to a group of practice patients, and to determine whether vaginal pH could be used in place of follicle-stimulating hormone as an initial screen to determine menopause. STUDY DESIGN: Sixteen studies regarding vaginal pH and menopausal symptoms before and after estrogen administration were analyzed. Two epidemiologic studies that reported follicle-stimulating hormone or vaginal pH with menopause were reviewed. These findings were compared with similar data from the practice of one of the authors (J.C.C.). RESULTS: Menopausal women who do not receive estrogen therapy have a weighted average vaginal pH of 6.0, which is reduced significantly to 4.5 with estrogen therapy. To diagnose menopause, follicle-stimulating hormone >or=15 or >or=20 mIU/mL in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey had a sensitivity of 65% to 68%. In a study in Costa Rica, where 3 definitions of menopause were used, a pH of >5.0 had a sensitivity of 64% to 67%. From the practice patients, the 95% confidence interval sensitivities and positive predictive values of vaginal pH and follicle-stimulating hormone to diagnose menopause overlapped, while a pH <or=4.5 indicated mid follicular phase estradiol levels. CONCLUSION: In women without vaginitis and no estrogen therapy, a vaginal pH of > 4.5 indicates menopause, because it demonstrates a similar sensitivity as follicle-stimulating hormone in epidemiologic studies. In the practice patients, the sensitivity of follicle-stimulating hormone was no different than vaginal pH in the diagnosis of menopause. Furthermore, with estrogen therapy, a vaginal pH of <or=4.5 indicates a mid follicular phase estradiol.
OBJECTIVE: This paper is intended to demonstrate whether vaginal pH value is associated with menopausal status and symptoms, to review the sensitivity of follicle-stimulating hormone or vaginal pH to diagnose menopause, to compare these findings to a group of practice patients, and to determine whether vaginal pH could be used in place of follicle-stimulating hormone as an initial screen to determine menopause. STUDY DESIGN: Sixteen studies regarding vaginal pH and menopausal symptoms before and after estrogen administration were analyzed. Two epidemiologic studies that reported follicle-stimulating hormone or vaginal pH with menopause were reviewed. These findings were compared with similar data from the practice of one of the authors (J.C.C.). RESULTS: Menopausal women who do not receive estrogen therapy have a weighted average vaginal pH of 6.0, which is reduced significantly to 4.5 with estrogen therapy. To diagnose menopause, follicle-stimulating hormone >or=15 or >or=20 mIU/mL in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey had a sensitivity of 65% to 68%. In a study in Costa Rica, where 3 definitions of menopause were used, a pH of >5.0 had a sensitivity of 64% to 67%. From the practice patients, the 95% confidence interval sensitivities and positive predictive values of vaginal pH and follicle-stimulating hormone to diagnose menopause overlapped, while a pH <or=4.5 indicated mid follicular phase estradiol levels. CONCLUSION: In women without vaginitis and no estrogen therapy, a vaginal pH of > 4.5 indicates menopause, because it demonstrates a similar sensitivity as follicle-stimulating hormone in epidemiologic studies. In the practice patients, the sensitivity of follicle-stimulating hormone was no different than vaginal pH in the diagnosis of menopause. Furthermore, with estrogen therapy, a vaginal pH of <or=4.5 indicates a mid follicular phase estradiol.