title: The menopause and bladder weight.
abstract: The aim of the study was to determine, whether bladder weight changes in the menopause and whether there is any correlation between lower urinary tract symptoms and bladder weight or the duration of menopause. A total of 94 women (30 without gynecologic or obstetric complaints, 31 with menopause less than 5 years and 33 menopause of 5 years or longer) were entered into the study. Bladder weights were determined ultrasonographically. The International Prostate Symptom Score questionnaire was used to evaluate lower urinary tract symptoms. A negative correlation was found between bladder weight and the duration of menopause. There was no significant difference between the three groups in terms of overall symptom scores. However, urgency incontinence score was the highest in the early postmenopausal period. In addition, the postmenopausal women had a significant negative correlation between the duration of menopause and frequent voiding scores. It was concluded that, ultrasonographically measured bladder weight decreases with the duration of menopause. Detailed studies with larger numbers of older women are needed to determine clearly whether this decrease in bladder weight has more significant effects on lower urinary tract symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Erciyes University Medical Faculty, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Aygen
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ekmekçioğlu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Başbuğ
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000209:etiology*