New Incontinence/hormone findings

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I read this morning of a new study linking longer hormone usage to incontinence in post-menopausal women:

http://news.yahoo.com/estrogen-tied-bladder-control-problems-134840377.html

It is unbelievable that anyone could profess to be studying bladder control in older women without ever mentioning (much less investigating) the role of prolapse.

This reminds me of a more local study that I participated in, a few years ago. My health care provider started sending me questionnaires about my bladder habits, always with a dollar or two enclosed in the envelope, in the hopes that I would stick with their study until the end. I didn't ..... and here's why: Never once did they give me any opening to broach the subject of prolapse. It was all objective questions and prolapse literally did not exist in this survey.

Hi surviving60,
Thanks for that link. I haven't had time to look at the link yet but will do. I agree, seems very strange to study incontinence without including prolapse issues. Hmmm, I wonder if there are hidden agendas here, such as preferred outcomes/possible longer term financial gains...
Given that it is women who experience women's problems, I think it's always helpful when researches include 'open questions' and ask women for their opinions about their problems.
Thanks for sharing, wholewomanuk

Yes, prolapse is the elephant in the room, hard to quantify other than saying it is big, but too big to include in this basic study.

I would suspect that this study will be part of a bigger study. The nature of scientific research is that they have to find answers to questions one at a time. Including other factors, such as progesterone or prolapse, would confound their findings and possibly make it harder to draw sound conclusions.

I think we will hear more about these studies.

I wonder who is funding them?

At least these basic questions are being asked, for whatever reason.

Re, "Northington doesn't recommend stopping estrogen but she does urge women to talk with their doctor before starting therapy." Much of the support for HRT comes from the fact that HRT seems to stop the increase in women suffering heart attacks and strokes post menopause. This keeps women out of hospitals and nursing homes and reduces the amount of money spent on sickness care.

The Cynical Old Tart in me says it keeps women healthy and at home, looking after their invalid husbands who have had heart attacks and strokes, so it keeps the men out of hospitals and nursing homes too!