Study Identifies Age-Related Collagen Changes in Vaginal Tissue
A new study published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal has identified key age-related changes in vaginal wall collagen that may contribute to the progressive degeneration of the female reproductive system.
The study, titled “Age-Associated Collagen Remodeling in Vaginal Tissue: A Histomorphometric Analysis”, examined vaginal tissue from 40 healthy women divided into 4 age groups: 20-30, 30-40, 40-50, and older than 50 years. The morphological characteristics of the mucosa were assessed through colposcopy, and histological changes in the vaginal wall were analyzed using hematoxylin-eosin, Masson, and Sirius Red staining.1
The study observed that as age increased, the vaginal mucosa color shifted from pink to pale or dark red, rugae density decreased, and surface moisture declined. Epithelial thickness was significantly reduced in older groups, and collagen content in the lamina propria greatly reduced. Although collagen in the muscularis remained relatively stable, a significant decline was noted after age 40.
Sirius Red polarized light staining revealed an age-dependent increase in the ratio of type I to type III collagen. This shift in collagen subtype balance was most pronounced in the lamina propria compared with the muscularis.
According to the authors, the findings represent the first systematic analysis of dynamic collagen remodeling in vaginal tissue across age groups. The observed increase in the type I/III collagen ratio and the greater loss of lamina propria collagen suggest a potential mechanism for functional decline in the aging vaginal wall.
These insights may support future research aimed at developing targeted interventions to preserve collagen metabolism and mitigate age-associated changes in the female reproductive system.
- Xiao Z, Zhou L, Wu J, et al. Age-associated collagen remodeling in vaginal tissue: a histomorphometric analysis. Aesthet Surg J. 2025. doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjaf157