Intra-urethral and intra-vesical pressure in continent women

Two age-groups of continent women were examined regarding the pressures in the urethra and the bladder, using a standardized recording technique with a microtransducer catheter elaborated in 1974 by Ulmsten-Asmussen. The two groups of women (mean age 28 and 54 years respectively) were examined concerning their urethral pressure profile at every 100 ml bladder filling until the maximal bladder capacity had been reached. The functional length of the urethra and the bladder pressure were the same for all women but the maximal urethral pressure decreased significantly with age (mean 61.5 and 39 mmHg in the two groups respectively). At increasing bladder filling only the younger group was able to respond with an increase in the maximal urethral pressure. The bladder volume at which severe tenesmi occurred was significantly higher in the elderly group.