Menopause, hormone treatment and urinary incontinence at midlife

Analysis of the epidemiological data drawn from large cohorts shows that on the one hand, the menopause has little if any impact on the risk of urinary incontinence, and on the other hand that the effects of oestrogen medication on urinary incontinence vary according to how it is administered and the type of incontinence. The effect of oral hormone treatments for menopause is rather negative with respect to stress incontinence. Vaginal treatment appears to be beneficial for overactive bladder symptoms.