Overactive bladder in the female patient: the role of estrogens.

The prevalence of urinary incontinence is known to increase with age, affecting 15% to 35% of community-dwelling women over 60 years of age. Other studies report a prevalence of 49% in women over 65 years of age. Epidemiologic studies have implicated estrogen deficiency in the etiology of lower urinary tract symptoms, although the role of estrogen replacement therapy remains controversial. This review presents recent evidence regarding the role of estrogen in lower urinary tract dysfunction, with a particular emphasis on the management of postmenopausal women with symptoms suggestive of overactive bladder.