None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Endometriosis is a common problem, affecting approximately ten percent of women of reproductive age. It has negative effects on quality of life through pelvic pain, dysmenorrhoea and infertility. Current clinical examination and ultrasound techniques are not effective in diagnosing superficial endometriosis. This leaves laparoscopy, an invasive surgical procedure, as the current gold standard for diagnosis of endometriosis. Recent studies have shown a correlation between shorter anogenital distance (AGD) and the presence of endometriosis. This study aims to further examine this correlation, in the hope that AGD may be used as a clinical tool to predict the presence or absence of endometriosis in women considering laparoscopy. This study will aim to define an average anogenital distance in a cohort of women undergoing gynaecological surgery. It will also aim to investigate the relationship between anogenital distance and gynaecological conditions of interest, particularly endometriosis, and other patient factors that might be associated with a shorter or longer than average AGD. We will invite premenopausal women aged 18-50 undergoing gynaecological procedures with a general anaesthetic at the RWH to participate. They will be recruited pre-operatively and asked to complete an online survey to determine relevant demographic and health information. Their AGD measurements will be taken by the treating gynaecological team during their procedure and recorded. If the patient is undergoing laparoscopy, the operation notes and any histopathology results will be reviewed to determine the presence or absence of endometriosis. This study is hoped to add evidence of the correlation between short AGD and endometriosis. It will also help determine what the average AGD is in the adult gynaecological patient population, and other factors such as age, obesity, ethnicity, etc that may be associated with differences in the AGD.
Interventions
Participants will complete the study questionnaire pre-operatively. The study questionnaire will be available electronically via online platform ‘SurveyMonkey’ and in hard copy form if requested.
The participants' anogenital distance (AGD) will be measured after they are anaesthetised, in the lithotomy position, by two of the treating team. It will be measured using disposable paper ruler. Two measurements will be taken. The AGD AC is the distance from the anus to the anterior part of the clitor
Participants will complete the study questionnaire pre-operatively. The study questionnaire will be available electronically via online platform ‘SurveyMonkey’ and in hard copy form if requested. The participants' anogenital distance (AGD) will be measured after they are anaesthetised, in the lithotomy position, by two of the treating team. It will be measured using disposable paper ruler. Two measurements will be taken. The AGD AC is the distance from the anus to the anterior part of the clitoral hood. The AGD AF is the distance from the anus to the posterior fourcette. If the patient is undergoing a laparoscopy, the treating clinicians will be asked to note whether or not endometriosis is present. The AGD will be measured again at the conclusion of the procedure.
Sponsors
Thomas Kavanagh
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 50 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
All women aged 18 to 50 years undergoing gynaecological surgery, with general anaesthesia, under the care of Gynaecology 1, Gynaecology 2 and Acute gynaecology teams at The Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne will be eligible to be enrolled in this study.
Exclusion criteria
Unable to provide consent Previous participation in the same study Age less than 18 years or more than 50 years Post-menopausal Those undergoing surgery for an acute pathology that may alter the participant’s usual external gential anatomy (such as Bartholin’s Gland Abscess, Labial abscess or genital trauma) Those with a history of previous vaginal surgery, such as prolapse repair or vulval surgery (such as treatment of vulval cancer). Previous female genital mutilation Those who are currently pregnant
Outcome results
None listed