Open AccessVaginal pH as a diagnostic tool for menopause: A preliminary analysis
Author(s) -
Nitin Makwana,
Maitri Shah,
Megha Chaudhary
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of mid-life health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.423
H-Index - 11
eISSN - 0976-7819
pISSN - 0976-7800
DOI - 10.4103/jmh.jmh_1_20
Subject(s) - menopause , medicine , menstruation , vagina , physiology , follicle stimulating hormone , menstrual cycle , estrogen , gynecology , hormone , obstetrics , endocrinology , luteinizing hormone , surgery
Menopause is defined as the permanent cessation of menstruation, as a result of decrease in ovarian follicles and the loss of ovarian activity. There is decrease in inhibin B level which causes decrease in negative feedback on the serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which in turn increases the level of serum FSH. Serum FSH is routinely used as a marker of menopause. Decline in the estrogen level causes thinning of vaginal epithelium, resulting in less exfoliation of the vaginal epithelial cells, lesser available glycogen, and decreased substrate for acid production, leading to increase in vaginal pH.