Female urethral dilation
Tony Bazi1, Gael Abou-Ghannam, Raja Khauli
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon. tb14@aub.edu.lb
International Urogynecology Journal
|February 15, 2013
Summary
Urethral dilation (UD) is a debated treatment for female lower urinary tract conditions. Current evidence, including six randomized controlled trials, shows no proven benefit for conditions like recurrent urinary tract infections.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Gynecology
Background:
- Urethral dilation (UD) is a cited treatment for various female lower urinary tract conditions.
- The etiologies of these conditions are diverse.
- Evidence for UD's efficacy is limited and inconsistent.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review urethral dilation (UD) in female patients.
- To critically appraise the available evidence for UD's use.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of electronic databases.
- Critical appraisal of existing literature.
Main Results:
- UD is proposed for conditions without shared causes affecting the female lower urinary tract.
- Outcome measurements were inconsistent across studies.
- Six randomized controlled trials found no benefit of UD for recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI), urethral syndrome, or overactive bladder.
Conclusions:
- The use of UD in female patients remains controversial with conflicting results.
- Professional societies should address this issue.
- Further research is needed to identify potential areas for investigating UD.
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