Role of serum steroid hormones in women with stress urinary incontinence: a case-control study

Objectives To investigate the potential relationship between endogenous sex steroids and presence of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Patients and Methods A total of 47 peri- and postmenopausal women with SUI were matched 1:1 with 47 continent women based on age, menopausal status, body mass index (BMI) and parity. Blood samples were drawn from all the women for assessment of oestradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, testosterone, androstendion (AEON), dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate and sex hormone-binding globulin with an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Results Women with SUI had significantly lower serum levels of E2 (8.49 +/- 7.47 vs 13.09 +/- 13.80; P = 0.048) and AEON (0.59 +/- 0.41 vs 1.20 +/- 0.87; P = 0.033) compared with controls. This difference in E2 levels remained significant after controlling for age, menopausal age, years from menopause, BMI, parity, testosterone and AEON. In addition, hypertension and history of hysterectomy were observed significantly more frequently in the SUI group (P < 0.001). There was no significant association between hormone levels and degree of SUI (P > 0.05). Conclusion The results of the present study indicate that a low E2 level might have a negative impact on the lower urinary tract and continence mechanism and a low E2 level is a possible risk factor for SUI in women.