C. Battaglia et al., Hormonal replacement therapy and urinary problems as evaluated by ultrasound and color Doppler, ULTRASOUN O, 13(6), 1999, pp. 420-424
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.