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01-10-2006 | Review Article

Estrogen therapy and urinary incontinence: what is the evidence and what do we tell our patients?

Authors: L. Elaine Waetjen, Peter L. Dwyer

Published in: International Urogynecology Journal | Issue 5/2006

Excerpt

Loss of estrogen associated with menopause has been considered as a factor responsible for the increasing urinary incontinence prevalence in women as they age. Indeed, incontinence is commonly categorized as a symptom of urogenital atrophy. The presence of alpha and beta estrogen receptors throughout the urogenital tract suggests that estrogen has a role in the continence mechanism, and many observational studies have supported positive physiological effects. Estrogen has been shown to increase urethral closure pressure [1‐3], increase urethral blood flow [4], increase alpha-adrenergic receptor sensitivity [5, 6], and improve cellular maturation in both the urethra and vagina [7]. Based on these observational studies and a few clinical trials [8], medical management of urinary incontinence in postmenopausal women has included the use of both systemic and vaginal estrogen. …

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Title: Estrogen therapy and urinary incontinence: what is the evidence and what do we tell our patients?
Authors: L. Elaine Waetjen
Peter L. Dwyer
Publication date: 01-10-2006
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: International Urogynecology Journal / Issue 5/2006
Print ISSN: 0937-3462
Electronic ISSN: 1433-3023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-006-0080-3

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