THE PRINCIPLES OF IDENTIFICATION AND MEASUREMENT OF VULVAR FLUORESCENCE

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Abstract
COLOR changes in vulvar fluorescence have been correlated with shifting ovarian hormone levels (1, 2). This is an important relationship and it is generally admitted that certain faint color changes do occur from the menarche through the menopause and with pregnancy. There is disagreement, however, as to what hues are actually seen in the perineum and whether true luminescence1 really is present. In order to establish the clinical reliability of vulvar fluorescence, we have developed the means of determining or excluding definite fluorescence in the vulvar area. We have identified certain luminescence colors and have also established their brightness values in photometric units, but we have not attempted to correlate these changes with endocrine variations at this time. Other colors seen in the pudendum under “black light”2 have been shown to be of nonfluorescent origin. All living tissues possess a characteristic fluorescence under ultraviolet illumination (3). Moreover, the degree of fluorescence hue, saturation and brightness varies with health and disease (4, 5, 6). Variations in tissue fluorescence may be expected in bacterial or fungus infections, some degenerative lesions, and certain types of endocrine or metabolic imbalance. Our interest is presently confined to the natural fluorescence exhibited by tissues and body secretions without the addition of fluorescent substances. Fluorescence produced by the injection of dyes such as fluorescein is a special phenomenon.

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