The effects of estrogens and gestagens on the urethral pressure profile in urinary continent and stress incontinent women

Abstract

The present investigation was performed to study the urodynamic effects of hormones on the lower urinary tract in women. Twenty-four stress incontinent and 6 continent women were randomly given E2 and E3 orally in doses of 4--8 mg per day for 3 weeks. Another group of 8 women were given a single i.m. injection of 1000 mg gestagen. All the women were examined with simultaneous urethrocystometry, including urethral pressure profile measurement, before and after treatment. After estrogen treatment the transmission of intraabdominal pressure to the urethra increased. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in maximum urethal pressure and urethral length at rest. After gestagen treatment no significant changes of the recorded parameters were observed.