Effects of Ovariectomy and Estrogen Replacement on the Urethral Continence Reflex During Sneezing in Rats

Results indicate that ovariectomy significantly impairs urethral function from the early stage (3 weeks) but does not induce stress urinary incontinence until the late stage (6 weeks). Also, estrogen replacement restores only the urethral baseline pressure parameter, leading to partial prevention of stress urinary incontinence. Since urethral baseline pressure and urethral response amplitude during sneezing parameters are related to urethral smooth and striated muscle activity, respectively, based on our previous studies, hormone replacement therapy may be partially effective for stress urinary incontinence by enhancing smooth muscle mediated urethral activity under stress conditions such as sneezing.