Sonographic size of uterus and ovaries in pre‐ and postmenopausal women

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: ≤ 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. Copyright © 1996 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology