J Korean Soc Menopause.  2011 Dec;17(3):136-141. 10.6118/jksm.2011.17.3.136.

Changes of Urinary Tract after Menopause and Effectiveness of Menopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy

• Kim JM
• Kim TH

• KMID: 1444801
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.6118/jksm.2011.17.3.136

Abstract

Because sex hormones influence the lower urinary tract, menopause can cause several urinary diseases including overactive bladder, stress urinary incontinence and recurrent urinary tract infection. However, the results of many clinical studies have indicated that menopausal hormone replacement therapy is not effective for the treatment of previous diseases, especially via the oral route. Although estrogen vaginal cream or pessary is an effective treatment for overactive bladders and can prevent recurrent urinary tract infection, its beneficial effects only last for the duration of the treatment. If patients with previous mentioned urologic disease have other local symptoms and conditions, such as atrophic vaginitis and dyspareunia, local estrogen replacement therapy will be helpful in relieving the local symptoms. However, the potential for breast cancer or return of withdrawal of bleeding, patient's age, adverse effect of systemic administration, estrogen-progesterone combination therapy, and effectiveness among other treatment modalities must be considered before a treatment decision can be made. In this article, we will review the current issues on the relationship among urinary tract and sex hormone and menopause, and the effectiveness of menopausal hormone replacement therapy for the treatment of overactive bladders, stress urinary tract incontinence and recurrent urinary tract infection.

Keyword

Hormone replacement therapy; Infection; Menopause; Urinary incontinence; Urinary tract

MeSH Terms

Atrophic Vaginitis
Breast Neoplasms
Dyspareunia
Estrogen Replacement Therapy
Estrogens
Female
Gonadal Steroid Hormones
Hemorrhage
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Humans
Menopause
Pessaries
Urinary Bladder
Urinary Bladder, Overactive
Urinary Incontinence
Urinary Tract
Urinary Tract Infections
Urologic Diseases
Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies
Estrogens
Gonadal Steroid Hormones
Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies

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