The Role of Oral Contraception on Bladder Symptoms

This article will review the effect of oral contraceptive pills on bladder symptoms.Recent FindingsOral contraceptives appear to decrease the risk of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The effect of OCP on recurrent UTI, OAB/UUI is unclear. Combined oral contraceptives may be implicated in interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome.SummaryThere appears to be a link between changes in estrogen and progesterone levels and lower urinary tract symptoms. While many studies have evaluated the effect of hormones on the genitourinary tract and bladder function in postmenopausal women menopause, further studies are needed to directly examine the role of OCP in the etiology and treatment of various lower urinary tract conditions. Oral contraceptives are manufactured with a variety of synthetic progestins and with varying dosages of estrogen and progestin, which have been demonstrated to alter endogenous hormone production and hormone receptor expression. Further research how these changes may affect bladder function is warranted.
Source: Current Bladder Dysfunction Reports - Category: Urology & Nephrology Source Type: research