ABSTRACT
The female genital and lower urinary tract share a common embryological origin, arising from
the urogenital sinus. Both are sensitive to the effects of female sex steroid hormones. Estrogen is
known to have an important role in the function of the lower urinary tract throughout adult life,
with estrogen and progesterone receptors demonstrated in the vagina, urethra, bladder, and
pelvic floor musculature (1-4). This is supported by the fact that estrogen defiency occurring
following the menopause is known to cause atrophic changes within the urogenital tract (5) and
is associated with urinary symptoms such as frequency, urgency, nocturia, incontinence, and
recurrent infection. These may also coexist with symptoms of vaginal atrophy such as
dyspareunia, itching, burning, and dryness. This chapter will review the role of estrogen and
progesterone on lower urinary tract function in addition to assessing the role of estrogens in the
management of lower urinary tract dysfunction.