A Technique for Vaginal Casting Utilizing Vinyl Polysiloxane Dental Impression Material

Dr. Paula B. Pendergrass, Women’s Health Research Group, 7 Amayo Court, Durham, NC 27713 (USA) Introduction Reported dimensions of adult vaginas are primarily limited to measurements of length [1–4]. With the exception of Dickinson [1], authors have failed to address the three-dimensional shape of the vagina and the development of the cervix and fornices. Moreover, although pelvic relaxation accompanying childbirth is quite common [5], the associated changes in vaginal shape and curvature have not been documented. This paper describes a casting technique appropriate for visualization of vaginal curvature and dimensions, information which can be useful to the surgeon, gynecologist, or manufacturer of vaginal products. Materials and Methods Two subjects, one nulliparous and one uniparous, delivered by cesarean section, volunteered for the project. Subjects were fully informed about the protocol and gave written consent. Each subject was asked to wash her perineum with warm soapy water and douche with plain tap water prior to casting. Each subject assumed a supine position on an examining table. A small amount of baby oil was applied to the pubic hair to facilitate release of any leaked moding material. A 6-inch spoon with a 1-inch bowl was warmed and gently inserted as far back into the vagina as possible with the bowl in the vertical position. A 3M ExpressTM Vinyl Polysiloxane Impression Material System consisting of a Kerr Express Syringe Gun equipped with a medium body purple vinyl polysiloxane cylinder with a 3-inch nozzle (fig. 1) was used to insert the molding material. Just before insertion a small quantity of the molding material was expressed from the tip of the nozzle to insure proper polymerization. Then the molding gun and nozzle were inserted into the vagina, and one half of the cylinder (approximately 50 ml) was injected. Then the spoon and molding gun were removed, and the subject digitally inserted a junior tampon to be used as a retriever. The gun was reinserted and additional molding material was deposited as the