Bladder weight in perimenopausal women aged 50-55

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Gynecology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are common in perimenopausal women.
• Potential causes include age-related bladder changes and hypoestrogenism.
• Understanding the primary driver is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether age-related bladder morphology or hypoestrogenism is the primary factor for LUTS in perimenopausal women.
• To evaluate the correlation between bladder weight, menopause duration, age, and LUTS severity.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study involving three groups of women aged 50-55: premenopausal, short-term menopausal (<5 years), and long-term menopausal (≥5 years).
• LUTS assessed using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire.
• Bladder weight determined via ultrasonography; correlations analyzed with age and menopause duration.

Main Results:

• Bladder weight significantly decreased in long-term menopausal women compared to short-term menopausal women within the same age group (p < 0.05).
• Significant correlation found between increased menopause duration and decreased bladder weight (r = 0.2, p = 0.015).
• No significant correlation between age and bladder weight (r = 0.03, p = 0.76), nor between LUTS and bladder weight or age.

Conclusions:

• In women aged 50-55, longer duration of hypoestrogenism, not older age, is associated with decreased bladder weight.
• The duration of hypoestrogenism did not significantly impact LUTS scores in this specific age group.
• Further studies with older women or longer hypoestrogenism duration are needed to observe potential LUTS differences.