A psychophysiological evaluation of female urethral syndrome: evidence for a muscular abnormality

This is a preliminary investigation into a recently defined urological disorder occurring in a subgroup of women with "urethral syndrome" suggestive of pelvic floor muscular (PFM) dysfunction. Symptoms include straining to void, urgency, frequency, hesitation, incontinence and/or retention, and subpubic pain. Finding neither bladder nor urological abnormalities, urologists may consider these women emotionally unstable without organic cause for their symptoms. However, their distress may be a consequence rather than a cause of their voiding problems. Sixteen female urological patients were matched with 16 asymptomatic controls to investigate PFM functioning, psychological status, and symptomatology. Results showed heterogeneity of symptomatology and little elevation of depression or anxiety when comparing patients with controls. Hypotheses of muscular abnormality were confirmed. Patients evidence poor control over testing and relaxing PFM, elevations of PFM activity under various conditions, and chronic pain as a prominent symptom. Treatment approaches specifically designed to address PFM dysfunction are discussed.