[Vaginal estriol administration in treatment of postmenopausal urinary incontinence]

Abstract

In an open, prospective, multicenter, controlled study, 629 female subjects suffering from stress and urgency urinary incontinence were treated with vaginally administered estriol at a dose of 0.01 g daily for 3 weeks, and 0.01 g bi-weekly for a further 3 weeks. All data of 552 patients were available at follow-up after 6 weeks of treatment. The subjective improvement in symptoms of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) was 82% for grade 1, 77% for grade 2, and 69% for grade 3. Voluntary urinary control and symptoms of urgency were improved in more than 80% of patients. Frequency was reduced in almost 50%. Compared with conditions at the outset of the study, after 6 weeks, vaginal lubrication is normal in 77%, and intercourse is no longer painful for 88%. Objective parameters were: no change in existing descent of the anterior vaginal wall, and normal cytoscopic findings in 66% of the patients in whom these were previously pathologic. Vaginal atrophy improved in approximately 40% of cases. A quality of life score revealed improvement in 72%, no change in 20% and worsening in 9% of patients compared with conditions at the start of therapy. During therapy, symptoms worsened in 1%; 2% of patients suffered from the adverse effects, with vaginal itching and burning sensations. Our results confirm the value of topical estrogen application as a cornerstone of efficient treatment of stress and/or urge incontinence in the postmenopausal patient.