Hormonal replacement therapy and urinary problems as evaluated by ultrasound and color Doppler

Objective To determine how hormone replacement therapy modifies bladder vas cularization and urinary symptoms. Study design Twenty-eight postmenopausal women with urinary symptoms (day-t ime frequency > 8; nocturia > 1; urgency and/or dysuria) were analyzed befo re and after 1, 3; and 6 months of hormone replacement therapy The patients underwent transvaginal ultrasound evaluation of the pelvic organs and endo metrial and bladder wall thickness. Transvaginal color Doppler analysis of blood Pow impedance of the uterine and intramural bladder wall arteries was performed in all cases. Results Hormone replacement therapy significantly increased bladder wall an d endometrial thickness. This result was associated with significant improv ements in uterine and bladder wall vascularization. Urinary symptoms also i mproved during therapy Conclusion The, study of bladder wall thickness and vascularization provide s additional information regarding the beneficial effect of hormone replace ment therapy on lower urinary tract symptoms in postmenopausal women.