THE ROLE OF ESTROGEN REPLACEMENT THERAPY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF URINARY-INCONTINENCE AND URINARY-TRACT INFECTION IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Postmenopausal women may suffer from a variety of urologic complaints including both urinary incontinence and urinary tract infection. Estro gen replacement therapy has been advocated as a potentially effective and conservative treatment modality for these problems. This article r eviews the physiologic basis for the use of estrogen replacement thera py in this patient population. Basic principles that guide the initial clinical evaluation and selection of therapy are considered. The avai lable literature regarding the indications and efficacy of hormonal re placement for both urinary incontinence and urinary tract infection al so is reviewed.