Urologie pro praxi 3/2019

Estrogens and urinary incontinence in women

Urinary incontinence, an involuntary uncontrolled leakage of urine, affects up to 50% of women at some point during their lives. Women around and after menopause are at the most risk. Gradual loss of ovarian function results in a decrease in estrogen level. Estrogen deficiency causes atrophy in the tissues of the uropoietic system with all the consequences, including the development or deterioration of urinary incontinence. Local estrogen replacement has been shown to have a positive effect on the quality of life of patients as well as on symptom improvement, whether as monotherapy or in combination with other treatment options for incontinence.

Keywords: incontinence, menopause, estrogens, urogenital atrophy.