title: Sonographic size of uterus and ovaries in pre- and postmenopausal women.
abstract: Uterine and ovarian size were measured in 765 pre- and postmenopausal women by transvaginal ultrasound. Of these, 263 (premenopausal, n = 155; postmenopausal, n = 108) were found to have neither uterine nor ovarian pathological findings. According to parity, premenopausal women were separated into three groups: nullipara, primipara and multipara. Postmenopausal women were separated into two groups according to years since menopause: < or = 5 years and > 5 years since menopause. In the premenopausal group, a parity-related enlargement in uterine size was observed between nulliparous and parous women. After the menopause, a significant reduction in uterine size and in the corpus-cervix ratio was observed. The reduction in uterine size was related to years since menopause. The endometrial thickness measured in the group of premenopausal women did not exceed 4 mm on day 4 and 8 mm on day 8 of the menstrual cycle; in the postmenopausal group, endometrial thickness did not exceed 5 mm (mean 3.6 mm). In the group of premenopausal women, no parity-related change in ovarian volume was observed. After menopause, there was an obvious reduction in ovarian volume. Between the two postmenopausal groups, there was a small but significant difference in ovarian volume.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Diagnostic Ultrasound and Prenatal Therapy, University of Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Merz
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Miric-Tesanic
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bahlmann
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wellek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010053:Ovary / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017698:Postmenopause; D017697:Premenopause; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods; D014599:Uterus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014621:Vagina