Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 9, 2026
Anogenital Distance and Perineal Measurements of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse POP Quantification System
Published on: September 20, 2018
Utility of anterior vaginal wall length measurement in vaginal reconstructive surgery
Amy F Collins1, Paula J Doyle1, Smitha Vilasagar1
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA.
Introduction And Hypothesis:
The pelvic organ prolapse quantification system (POP-Q) is the most commonly used method to quantify the extent of pelvic organ prolapse. However, it does not include assessment of anterior vaginal wall length (AVL). The objectives of this study were to characterize AVL and distance to the sacrospinous ligament (SSL), and to examine associations between total vaginal length (TVL), AVL, body mass index (BMI) and age.
Methods:
This was a retrospective chart review of 139 patients with cervix in situ presenting during an 8-month period for initial evaluation to the University of Rochester Medical Center Urogynecology practice. AVL, TVL and distance to the SSL were measured in addition to POP-Q measurements. Age, height, BMI, presenting complaint and prolapse stage were obtained from medical records. Simple linear regression was used to assess the relationship between TVL and AVL. Multivariate regression was used to test independent variables.
Results:
The mean ± SD TVL, AVL and distance to the SSL were 9.4 ± 1.2 cm, 7.4 ± 0.9 cm and 7.2 ± 0.9 cm, respectively. All three measurements approached a normal distribution. TVL decreased slightly with age. No association was found between vaginal length and BMI or parity.
Conclusions:
AVL is a useful measurement that may aid in surgical decision-making. Providers should consider using AVL when planning sacrospinous hysteropexy.
