Urethral Pressure Variations in Healthy Females During Rest and Sleep

Abstract

Recent studies have shown the occurrence of rhythmic urethral pressure variations (UPV) in the normal female urethra in the awake state. The nature of these variations still needs further elucidation. In this study we investigated the changes in urethral pressure (UP) and in UPV as they occur in healthy females awake and asleep. UPV, intravesical-(IVP) and rectal pressure (RP), together with anal electromyography (EMG) and electroencephalography (EEG) were measured in 10 healthy fertile female volunteers. The registration was done in the awake state, during falling asleep and during sleep. During falling asleep the average urethral pressure as well as the UPV amplitude and frequencies decreased and remained at a lower stable level during sleep. Urethral pressure and its variations seemed to be interrelated since the UPV frequency and amplitude decreased when the average UP decreased. From this study it appears that urethral pressure is influenced by extrinsic factors such as the waking, resting and sleeping states. Although some extrinsic modulation of urethral pressure variations occurs, their persistance in sleep suggests their local nature.

Does urinary incontinence occurrence depend on the menstrual cycle phase?

“…If a causal link does exist between hormonal status and UI, the occurrence of UI can be hypothesized to covary with the hormonal changes occurring during menstrual cycles, which are not influenced by exogenous sex hormones. In clinical studies, the time position in the menstrual cycle has generally been found not to influence urodynamic parameters significantly, in either healthy fertile women (1, 14–18), or in women with known UI (14, 17). One study has demonstrated a slightly increased urethral length during the midcycle and the early luteal phase, whereas no covariation with urethral pressure was found (19).…”

Continuous urethral pressure measurements; measurement techniques; pressure variations; clinical interpretations; and clinical relevance. A Systematic Literature Analysis

“…Six expert opinion reviews were excluded . When multiple papers were published on the basis of a single patient cohort, only one paper of those, with the largest cohort, was included, others were considered duplicate and excluded . Twenty‐five papers met all predefined selection criteria and were included.…”

Effect of voluntary attention on urethral pressure

“…The increase in UP that we found is perfectly compatible with this increase in the sympathetic tone. Moreover, Sorensen et al [1987] reported a decrease in UP during sleep in healthy women. Sleep on the one hand, vigilance and attention on the other hand, are two opposite physiological states, involving the reticular formation of the brain stem and, particularly, the Locus Coemleus (LC) [Lindsley, 1987;Elam et al, 1986;Yoshimura et al, 19881.…”