Effect of gonadal steroid receptors alterations on the pathophysiology of pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of the gonadal steroid receptors expression to the pathophysiological pathways of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and urodynamic stress urinary incontinence (USUI) after menopause.

Methods: This was a prospective closely-matched controlled clinicopathological study. Immunohistochemistry for estrogen receptor isoform α (ER-α) and β (ER-β), as well as for progesterone receptor (PR), was performed on formaline-fixed and paraffin-embedded sections of specimens coming from the pubocervical fascia of postmenopausal women who were allocated into three groups: patients with synchronous POP and USUI (Group A), patients diagnosed with only POP (Group B), and patients without POP or USUI who underwent gynecological surgery for another benign indication (control group, Group C).