[Effect of vaginal estrogen therapy on urinary incontinence in postmenopause]

A depot preparation of Estriol (Ortho Gynest D; 3.5 mg Estriol, intravaginal) was applied for 3 months to 135 postmenopausal women with urinary incontinence. Before and after treatment the symptoms of incontinence were scaled by the Gaudenz questionnaire. 8 symptoms were tested for statistical significance. All of them had significantly improved after treatment. 63% of patients showed improvement of their incontinence, urinary stress incontinence improved in 50%. Dysuria was reported by 14 patients before treatment, by none after treatment. Daytime and nighttime micturition frequency both decreased significantly, also subjective impairment by incontinence. Thus the local application of Estriol ovula represents an effective mode of primary treatment (maintenance therapy, one dose per week) in postmenopausal patients with urinary incontinence.