3D Ultrasound and Color Doppler Studies of the Clitoris in Circumcised Versus Uncircumcised Female

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Patients were divided into two groups: Group A: 14 women with Female Circumcision that included cutting of the clitoris. Group B: 14 women without Female Circumcision as control group. All patients were subjected to the following: Interview with women for detailed history taking and explaining the research. A written Consent was obtained from them before their enrollment into the study. To ensure standard conditions, the subjects lied in a recumbent position and were evaluated between 08.00 and 11.00 a.m. To avoid anyexternal genital stimulation, subjects were asked not to wear trousers or cross their legs on the morning of the ultrasound examination. Furthermore, in order to minimize external effects on blood flow, all women were scanned in a noiseless room with constant heat and light

Detailed Description
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Patients were divided into two groups: Group A: 14 women with Female Circumcision that included cutting off the clitoris. Group B: 14 women without Female Circumcision as a control group. Translabial ultrasound scanning was performed for each woman with Sonographic measurements of the clitoral volume and labia minora thickness performed by using a RSP-16 multi frequency transducer. The transducer was placed on the upper part of the vulva to assess the clitoris in a transverse section and on the labia majora for the sagittal view. To prevent artifacts, care was taken to avoid excessive pressure on the clitoris. The clitoris was studied where the paired corpora join in a single body that projects into the glans. Volumes were measured by reporting length, width, and depth assuming the form to be an ellipsoid: V = π/6 × D1 × D2 × D3, where D1, D2, and D3 are the maximal longitudinal, anteroposterior, and transverse diameter, respectively. The same transducer was further sagittally placed on each labium major to measure labia minora thickness, ensuring that the minimum possible pressure is applied with the ultrasound probe on the skin. Color Doppler ultrasonography was used to identify, in a longitudinal plane, the dorsal clitoral artery, which is sampled on the outer surface of the clitoral body as previously described. With the same longitudinal approach, the terminal branch of the posterior labial artery (a branch of the internal pudendal artery) was visualized posterolaterally to the labia majora (at about 2 cm from the clitoral hood).

Official Title
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3D Ultrasound and Color Doppler Studies of the Clitoris in Circumcised Versus Uncircumcised Female

Conditions
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Female Genital Mutilation

Intervention / Treatment
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* Diagnostic Test: Color Doppler ultrasonography


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Both circumcised and non circumcised females between 15 and 45 years old Exclusion Criteria: Pregnant women Women with gynecological disorders Genital inflammations or mases Neurological or vascular disorders

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 15 Years
Maximum Age: 45 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Cicrumcised females<br>14 women with Female Circumcision that included cutting of the clitoris. | Diagnostic Test: Color Doppler ultrasonography<br>* in a longitudinal plane, the dorsal clitoral artery, which is sampled on the outer surface of the clitoral body as previously described. With the same longitudinal approach, the terminal branch of the posterior labial artery (a branch of the internal pudendal artery) was visualized posterolaterally to the labia majora<br>* Other names: Doppler;|
| Non circumcised females<br>14 women without Female Circumcision as control group | Diagnostic Test: Color Doppler ultrasonography<br>* in a longitudinal plane, the dorsal clitoral artery, which is sampled on the outer surface of the clitoral body as previously described. With the same longitudinal approach, the terminal branch of the posterior labial artery (a branch of the internal pudendal artery) was visualized posterolaterally to the labia majora<br>* Other names: Doppler;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The peak systolic velocity of the clitoreal artery | The peak systolic velocity of the clitoreal artery using Doppler machine to measure Blood supply to the body of clitoris in cm/second | At time of Doppler assessment | 
| The pulsatility index of clitoreal artery | The pulsatility index of clitoreal artery using Doppler machine to measure Blood supply to the body of clitoris in cm/second | At time of Doppler assessment |