Abnormal urethral compliance in females diagnosis, results and treatment. Preliminary study.

We measured urethral compliance in 57 patients using a catheter of increasing diameter. The measurement makes it possible to differentiate clearly between rigidity and hyperlaxity of the female urethra. In both instances, the initial pressure (Po) is lower than normal, but the rate of pressure increase (a), with larger catheter sizes, is significantly higher in cases of urethral rigidity and on the contrary parallel to normal in cases of hyperlaxity. This distinction allows for more accuracy in the determination of therapeutic indication. An inversely proportional correlation was found between the initial urethral pressure and the rate of pressure increase (r = 0.74). The initial pressure is generally lower in older women (r = 0.56).