Measurement of nitric oxide in the vagina.
OBJECTIVE
Local measurement of nitric oxide (NO) gas has been used to detect and monitor inflammatory processes in the airways, the colon and in the urinary bladder, but so far NO has not been studied in the lower female genital tract. The objective of this study is to measure NO gas directly in the vaginal lumen of healthy women and in patients with vaginitis.


METHODS
The outpatient clinic of a university hospital.


METHODS
Eighteen non-pregnant women from 19 to 65 years of age with symptoms of vaginitis, eight healthy women in reproductive age with regular menstrual cycles and nine healthy postmenopausal women were enrolled in the study. NO levels were measured in air incubated for five minutes in a catheter balloon in the vagina.


RESULTS
In patients with symptoms of vaginitis, NO concentration was almost 100-fold increased compared to healthy controls (p<0.001) with no individual overlap. Vaginal NO levels were uniformly low among healthy women, both in reproductive age and in menopause.


CONCLUSIONS
NO gas can be measured directly in the vagina with a fast, simple and safe method. The levels of NO are increased in patients with vaginitis.
Sioutas
Angelos
A
Department of Woman and Child Health, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Institutet/Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. angelos.sioutas@karolinska.se
Ehrén
Ingrid
I
Gemzell-Danielsson
Kristina
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014621:Vagina / Q000378:metabolism*; D014627:Vaginitis / Q000378:metabolism*
D009569:Nitric Oxide