(777) Doppler Ultrasound of the Clitoral Arteries: A Systematic Review

Introduction Clitoral Doppler ultrasound (CDU) is an emerging technique for evaluating vascular parameters related to sexual and cardiovascular health in women and individuals with a vulva. While penile Doppler ultrasound has been established since the 1980s as the gold standard for assessing male sexual vascular function, with standardized protocols and reference values endorsed by international guidelines, its female equivalent remains underdeveloped. Current studies are heterogeneous, lacking standardized protocols and normative thresholds, which limits the reliability and generalization of findings. A comprehensive synthesis is required to clarify techniques, thresholds, and clinical applications. Objective To systematically identify and summarize the available evidence on techniques, reference thresholds, and clinical applications of clitoral Doppler ultrasound. Methods This systematic review has followed established methodological standards. Comprehensive electronic searches was conducted in PubMed and Embase from inception to the 28th of January 2025. Eligible studies included those reporting Doppler ultrasound of the clitoris with quantitative data, published in English, French, Spanish, or Italian. Non-accessible full texts and studies without extractable data were excluded. Two independent reviewers screened the studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. Extracted variables include study population, Doppler methodology (probe type, imaging plane, vascular indices), proposed thresholds, reproducibility measures, and reported clinical applications. Data will be synthesized narratively, with tabular summaries where appropriate. Results Data extraction and synthesis are ongoing. Preliminary findings suggest wide methodological heterogeneity, limited reproducibility data, and a lack of universally accepted reference thresholds for PI, RI, and PSV. Expected results include a consolidated overview of techniques, identification of proposed diagnostic thresholds, and mapping of clinical applications in sexual medicine and related fields. Conclusions This review aims to provide the first structured synthesis of clitoral Doppler ultrasound literature, highlighting its potential role in sexual and cardiovascular health assessment. Findings are expected to guide standardization of protocols, support the definition of reference values, and identify knowledge gaps for future research. Disclosure No