The relation between urinary incontinence and steroid hormone levels in perimenopausal women. A report from the Women's Health in the Lund Area (WHILA) study.

OBJECTIVE: To outline possible associations between urinary incontinence (UI) and serum levels of steroid hormones in middle-aged women. DESIGN AND SETTING: Community-based observational study. SAMPLE: All women aged 50-59 living in the Lund area by December 1995 were invited to a screening procedure. Sixty-four percent (n = 6,917) attended the screening that included physical and laboratory examinations and questionnaires. METHODS: Serum levels of cortisol, testosterone, androstendione, SHBG (sex hormone-binding globulin), and estradiol were analyzed and the 2,221 (32%) women who reported urinary leakage causing a social or hygienic problem were compared to those who denied incontinence. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Possible differences in serum levels of steroid hormones in continent and incontinent women. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between continent and incontinent women regarding serum levels of cortisol, testosterone, androstendione, or testosterone + androstendione combined. Serum estradiol adjusted for body mass index, parity, smoking, and hysterectomy was significantly higher in incontinent women (87.1 +/- 138.4 pmol/l vs. 78.0 +/- 118.5 pmol/l, p = 0.005), whereas the ratio estradiol/SHBG was not. These differences persisted when the group of women not on hormonal treatment was analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: UI in middle-aged women seems related to higher serum estradiol levels. This corroborates with studies showing a higher incidence and/or prevalence of UI in women on hormone therapy. No association between UI and serum levels of cortisol, testosterone, or androstendione was found.