Ultrasonographic and Hormonal Characteristics of Malawian Women With and Without Obstetric Fistula
Ultrasonographic and Hormonal Characteristics of Malawian Women With and Without Obstetric Fistula
This study is a cross-sectional study of 110 Malawian women to compare the ultrasonographic
 and hormonal characteristics of women and without obstetric fistula.

 Hypothesis #1: Women with obstetric fistula have a mean cervical length measurement that is
 at least 10 mm shorter than the mean cervical length measurement of similar women without
 obstetric fistula.

 Hypothesis #2: Evaluation of the hormonal and ultrasonographic characteristics of women with
 obstetric fistula will allow us to assess the cause of amenorrhea in these women.
This study is a cross-sectional study of 110 Malawian women who present for medical
 evaluation at the Fistula Care Centre in Lilongwe, Malawi. If a woman enrolls in the study,
 her demographic, medical history, physical exam, and lab data will be abstracted from her
 medical records at the Fistula Centre. She will also a pelvic ultrasound on each participant
 so that the characteristics of her cervix, uterus, and ovaries (such as the cervical length,
 endometrial thickness and ovarian volume) can be evaluated. If the participant has an
 obstetric fistula, she will also complete an additional blood draw for lab testing. The
 laboratory tests will evaluate three hormones that are associated with amenorrhea and
 infertility: follicle stimulating hormone, estradiol, and antimullerian hormone.
Inclusion Criteria:

 1. Presentation to the Fistula Care Centre in Lilongwe for medical evaluation

 2. Ability to consent for study participation in Chichewa

 3. Female aged 18-45 years

 4. Willingness to undergo pelvic ultrasound for assessment of pelvic organs

 Exclusion Criteria:

 1. No history of pregnancy

 2. History of hysterectomy

 3. Current pregnancy or pregnancy within the past six weeks

 4. Seriously or terminally ill