Prevalence and Bother of Postvoid Dribbling and Urine Spraying or Splitting: Survey of a General Gynecology Population.

IMPORTANCE: Postvoid dribbling is described well for men in urologic literature but is poorly defined for women, especially in those not presenting for urogynecologic care. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to assess prevalence and bother of postvoid dribbling, urine spraying (ie, deviation of the urine stream), and other bothersome voiding/storage symptoms in a general gynecology population. STUDY DESIGN: This was an anonymous cross-sectional survey study of women presenting to academic general gynecology practices for benign gynecologic care or well-woman visits; patients were not presenting for urinary incontinence or voiding dysfunction. A questionnaire was used to assess the presence and perceptions of voiding behavior and urinary symptoms with an emphasis on postvoid dribbling and urine spraying. The questionnaire included both the validated Questionnaire for Urinary Incontinence Diagnosis and nonvalidated questions. RESULTS: Nonpregnant adult women (N = 355) were surveyed. The median age was 43 years (interquartile range, 33-51 years). The sample was 45% White, 23% Black, 3% Asian, and 13% other. Furthermore, 39% were Latina; 68%, parous; and 28%, postmenopausal. The prevalence (95% confidence interval) of immediate postvoid dribbling was 186 of 327 or 57% (51-62%), and of these, it was at least somewhat bothersome in 37% but moderately-to-quite-a-bit bothersome in 8%. Urine spraying occurred in 222 of 333 or 67% (61-72%), and of these, it was at least somewhat bothersome in 53% but moderately-to-quite-a-bit bothersome in 17%. Approximately 20% reported stress and/or urgency urinary incontinence; both postvoid dribbling and urine spraying were highly associated with these symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This study of women seeking benign gynecologic care shows a high prevalence of postvoid dribbling and urine spraying symptoms. However, moderate-or-greater bother was relatively uncommon.

Induction of Cellular Senescence in Rat Vaginal Fibroblasts and Treatment With Senolytics: An in Vitro Model for the Study of Pelvic Organ Prolapse.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to develop an in vitro model of cellular senescence using rat vaginal fibroblasts and determine the effects of treatment with senolytics. METHODS: Rat vaginal tissue biopsies were collected. Primary vaginal fibroblasts were isolated and characterized by immunofluorescence. To induce cellular senescence, fibroblasts were treated with etoposide at 3, 10, and 20 mM for 24 hours, followed by treatment with the senolytics dasatinib (1 mM) and/or quercetin (20 mM). After treatment, RNA was extracted and the expression of selected genes was quantified. Immunostaining of senescence markers was also performed. RESULTS: Fibroblasts were confirmed by positive immunostaining for α-smooth muscle actin and vimentin, and negative immunostaining for pan-cytokeratin. Treatment with etoposide resulted in a dose-dependent increase in expression of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype markers MMP-7, MMP-9, and IL-b1 (P < 0.05) compared with controls. Immunostaining showed increased expression of γ-H2A and p21 after treatment with etoposide. Cells treated with dasatinib and quercetin after etoposide treatment had decreased expression of p21, MMP-7, MMP-9, and IL-1b compared with cells treated only with etoposide (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Upregulation of senescence-associated factors provided evidence that senescence can be induced in vaginal fibroblasts in vitro. Furthermore, treatment with the senolytics dasatinib and quercetin abrogated the senescence phenotype induced by etoposide in rat vaginal fibroblasts. Our findings provide a novel model for the study and development of new therapies targeting the disordered extracellular matrix associated with pelvic organ prolapse.

Impact of vaginal distention on cell senescence in an animal model of pelvic organ prolapse.

OBJECTIVE: Cellular senescence, associated with aging, leads to impaired tissue regeneration. We hypothesize that vaginal injury initiates cell senescence, further propagated during aging resulting in pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Our objective was to employ a mouse model of POP (Fibulin-5 knockout mice, Fbln5-/-) to determine if vaginal distention leads to cellular senescence and POP. METHODS: 6wk old females [wild-type (WT), n = 81; Fbln5-/-, n = 47)] were assigned to control vs vaginal distention, which approximated vaginal delivery. Serial POP measurements were obtained until vagina were harvested from euthanized mice at 24, 48, 72 h and 1wk. Markers of cell senescence were quantified by immunofluorescence. DNA damage was assessed with γ-H2Ax. RESULTS: WT distended mice showed decreased p53 (p = 0.0230) and γ-H2Ax (p = 0.0008) in vaginal stromal cells at 1wk compared to controls. In WT mice, SA-ß-Gal activity increased 1wk after distention (p = 0.05). In Fbln5-/- mice, p53 and γ-H2Ax did not decrease, but p16 decreased 72 h after distention (p = 0.0150). SA-ß-Gal activity also increased in Fbln5-/-, but at earlier time points and 1wk after distention (p < 0.0001). Fbln5-/- mice developed POP after distention earlier than non distended animals (p = 0.0135). CONCLUSIONS: Vaginal distention downregulates p53 and γ-H2Ax in WT mice, thereby promoting cell proliferation 1wk after injury. This was absent among Fbln5-/- distention mice suggesting they do not escape senescence. These findings indicate a failure of cellular protection from senescence in animals predisposed to POP.

Anatomy, histology, and nerve density of clitoris and associated structures: clinical applications to vulvar surgery.

BACKGROUND: A precise understanding of structures comprising the female external genitalia is essential in obstetric and gynecologic practice. OBJECTIVE: To further characterize the anatomy, histology, and nerve density of the clitoris and associated structures, and to provide clinical correlations to vulvar surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Unembalmed female cadavers were examined. The length and width of the body, glans, and crura of the clitoris were measured. Distances from the glans to the urethra and from the dorsal surface of the clitoral body to the mid pubic arch were recorded. The path of the dorsal nerve of the clitoris was examined, and the nerve width was measured as it emerged from the lateral surface of crura and at the distal clitoral body. Distances from where the dorsal nerve emerged from the perineal membrane to the posterior surface of the membrane and to mid pubic arch were measured. Connective tissue layers associated with the clitoris were examined. Tissue was harvested from additional unembalmed cadavers, and nerve density of the labia minora, glans, and clitoral body were analyzed. Histological examination was performed on vulvar structures to clarify tissue composition. Descriptive statistics were used for data analyses. RESULTS: A total of 27 cadavers (aged 48-96 years) were examined, 22 grossly and 5 histologically. The median length and width of clitoral body were 29 mm (range, 13-59 mm) and 9 mm (range, 5-14 mm), respectively. The glans was 8 mm (range, 5-12 mm) long and 4 mm (range, 3-10 mm) wide. The length of the crura was 50 mm (range, 25-68 mm), and the width at the anterior portion was 9 mm (range, 2-13 mm). The closest distance from the glans to the urethra was 25 mm (range, 14-37 mm) and from the clitoral body to the mid pubic arch was 29 mm (range, 14-46 mm). The widths of the dorsal nerve at the lateral crura and at the distal clitoral body were 3 mm (range, 2-4 mm) and 1 mm (range, 1-2 mm), respectively. The distance from the dorsal nerve as it emerged from the perineal membrane to the mid pubic arch was 34 mm (range, 20-48 mm) and to the posterior surface of the membrane was 20 mm (range, 8-31 mm). The dorsal nerve and artery of the clitoris coursed adjacent to the medial surface of the inferior pubic ramus surrounded by a dense fibrous capsule adherent to the periosteum. The nerve and artery then coursed deep to dense connective tissue layers, which were contiguous with the suspensory ligament and fascia of the clitoris. Histologic examination revealed the presence of erectile tissue in the clitoral body, crura, and vestibular bulbs, but such tissue was absent in the glans and labia minora. Nerve density analysis revealed statistically significant greater density in the dorsal compared with ventral half of the clitoral body. Although not statistically significant, there was increased nerve density in the distal compared to the proximal half of the labia minora. CONCLUSION: Precise knowledge of clitoral anatomy and associated neurovascular structures is essential to safely complete partial vulvectomies, clitoral and vulvar reconstructive procedures, anti-incontinence surgeries, and repair of obstetric lacerations. Understanding the range of anatomic variations and awareness of the areas of increased nerve density is important during counseling and surgical planning. Although the dorsal nerve of the clitoris courses deep to dense connective tissue layers, inadvertent injury may occur in the setting of deep dissection or suture placement. The dorsal nerve seems most vulnerable with surgical entry or lacerations that extend from the midline of the prepuce to the inferior pubic rami.