Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Article
  • Published:

Tamsulosin for treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms in women: a systematic review and meta-analysis

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 29, pages 148–156 (2017)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Tamsulosin has been used for the off-label treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in women. Over the past few years, several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have reported the clinical effectiveness and safety of tamsulosin for LUTS in women. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to perform a meta-analysis to evaluate the safety and efficacy of tamsulosin in treating LUTS in women, which may resolve some of the current controversies over use of the drug and provide more reliable evidence for the use of tamsulosin. A literature review was performed to identify all published RCTs of tamsulosin for the treatment of LUTS in women. The search included the following databases: PUBMED, EMBASE, the Cochrane Controlled Trail Register of Controlled Trials, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Science and Technique Journals Database (VIP) and Wanfang Database. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. Six RCTs studies involving 764 female participants were included in the analysis. Four out of the six RCTs compared tamsulosin with placebo, one RCT compared tamsulosin with prazosin and the other study compared tamsulosin with tamsulosin combined with tolterodine. Two RCTs evaluated total International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and improved total IPSS compared with the placebo (standardized mean difference=−4.08, 95% confidence interval=−5.93 to −2.23, P<0.00001). IPSS (storage symptom score), IPSS (voiding symptom score) and quality-of-life score also showed the similar effects. In addition, tamsulosin improved the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire score when compared with placebo in only one RCT. For urodynamic parameters, tamsulosin improved the average flow rate and the post-void residual volume when compared with prazosin and tolterodine combined with tamsulosin, respectively. Beyond that, the other parameters showed no significant difference between the treatment and control groups. On the basis of the present evidence, tamsulosin is an effective treatment for the relief of LUTS in women when compared with placebo. However, the safety of the tamsulosin remains unknown. Further, well-conducted trials that examine long-term outcomes are required.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 10
Figure 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Moller LA, Lose G, Jorgensen T . The prevalence and bothersomeness of lower urinary tract symptoms in women 40-60 years of age. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2000; 79: 298–305.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Jones C, Hill J, Chapple C Guideline Development Group. Management of lower urinary tract symptoms in men: summary of NICE guidance. BMJ 2010; 340: c2354.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Robinson D, Giarenis I, Cardozo L . New developments in the medical management of overactive bladder. Maturitas 2013; 76: 225–229.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Kim KH . Ischemic tolerance induced by cerebral preconditioning: new urologic research area. Int Neurourol J 2010; 14: 201–202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Robinson D, Cardozo L . Pharmacotherapy of overactive bladder syndrome. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2008; 1: 163–175.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Boyd K, Hilas O . alpha-adrenergic blockers for the treatment of lower-urinary-tract symptoms and dysfunction in women. Ann Pharmacother 2014; 48: 711–722.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Schwinn D . Novel role for α1‐adrenergic receptor subtypes in lower urinary tract symptoms. BJU Int 2000; 86: 11–22.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Groutz A, Blaivas JG . Non-neurogenic female voiding dysfunction. Curr Opin Urol 2002; 12: 311–316.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Barry MJ, Fowler FJ Jr., O'Leary MP, Bruskewitz RC, Holtgrewe HL, Mebust WK et al. The American Urological Association symptom index for benign prostatic hyperplasia. The Measurement Committee of the American Urological Association. J Urol 1992; 148: 1549–1557, discussion 1564.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Okamura K, Nojiri Y, Osuga Y, Tange C . Psychometric analysis of international prostate symptom score for female lower urinary tract symptoms. Urology 2009; 73: 1199–1202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Chai TC, Belville WD, McGuire EJ, Nyquist L . Specificity of the American Urological Association voiding symptom index: comparison of unselected and selected samples of both sexes. J Urol 1993; 150 (5 Pt 2): 1710–1713.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Chancellor MB, Rivas DA . American Urological Association symptom index for women with voiding symptoms: lack of index specificity for benign prostate hyperplasia. J Urol 1993; 150 (5 Pt 2): 1706–1708, discussion 1708-1709.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Boyle P, Robertson C, Mazzetta C, Keech M, Hobbs FD, Fourcade R et al. The prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms in men and women in four centres. The UrEpik study. BJU Int 2003; 92: 409–414.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Terai A, Matsui Y, Ichioka K, Ohara H, Terada N, Yoshimura K . Comparative analysis of lower urinary tract symptoms and bother in both sexes. Urology 2004; 63: 487–491.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Higgins JP, Green S . Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions version 5.1.0. Available at (http://handbook.cochrane.org/, 2011.

  16. Cui Y, Zong H, Zhang Y . The efficacy and safety of silodosin in treating BPH: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int Urol Nephrol 2012; 44: 1601–1609.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Yang CS, Huang H, Zhang LL, Zhu CR, Guo Q . Aripiprazole for the treatment of tic disorders in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Psychiatry 2015; 15: 179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Pummangura N, Kochakarn W . Efficacy of tamsulosin in the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in women. Asian J Surg 2007; 30: 131–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Robinson D, Cardozo L, Terpstra G, Bolodeoku J Tamsulosin Study Group.. A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled multicentre study to explore the efficacy and safety of tamsulosin and tolterodine in women with overactive bladder syndrome. BJU Int 2007; 100: 840–845.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Wang CJ, Huang SW, Chang CH . Effects of tamsulosin on lower urinary tract symptoms due to double-J stent: a prospective study. Urol Int 2009; 83: 66–69.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Hajebrahimi S, Asrbadr YA, Azaripour A, Sadeghi-Bazargani H . Effect of tamsulosin versus prazosin on clinical and urodynamic parameters in women with voiding difficulty: a randomized clinical trial. Int J Gen Med 2011; 4: 35–39.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Shalaby E, Ahmed AF, Maarouf A, Yahia I, Ali M, Ghobish A . Randomized controlled trial to compare the safety and efficacy of tamsulosin, solifenacin, and combination of both in treatment of double-j stent-related lower urinary symptoms. Adv Urol 2013; 2013: 752382.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Kim SO, Hwang EC, Oh KJ, Kwon D, Park K, Ryu SB . Efficacy and safety of combined therapy with tamsulosin and tolterodine in female patients with a maximal flow rate less than 12ml/s. Int Urogynecol J 2011; 22: 1287–1291.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Coyne K, Revicki D, Hunt T, Corey R, Stewart W, Bentkover J et al. Psychometric validation of an overactive bladder symptom and health-related quality of life questionnaire: the OAB-q. Qual Life Res 2002; 11: 563–574.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Oh SJ, Son H, Kim SW, Lee KS, Choo MS, Kim SO et al. Psychometric Properties of the Korean Version of the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB-q) in a Korean Population. Int Neurourol J 2012; 16: 77–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Cipullo LM, Cosimato C, Filippelli A, Conti V, Izzo V, Zullo F et al. Pharmacological approach to overactive bladder and urge urinary incontinence in women: an overview. Eur J Obst Gynecol Reprod Biol 2014; 174: 27–34.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Lo T-S . Alpha blockers in the clinical treatment of female lower urinary tract dysfunction. Incont Pelvic Floor Dysfunct 2010; 4: 69–71.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Wei J, Song Y, Sun L, Lv C . Comparison of artificial total disc replacement versus fusion for lumbar degenerative disc disease: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Int Orthop 2013; 37: 1315–1325.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This project was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 81460569) and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Health Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology projects, Guangxi Province, China (nos GZZJ13-17 and gzzc1233).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China

    H L Zhang, Z G Huang, Y Qiu, X Q Zou & T T Liu

  2. Department of Pharmacy, Women & Infants Hospital of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, China

    X Cheng

Authors
  1. H L Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Z G Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Y Qiu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. X Cheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. X Q Zou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. T T Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to T T Liu.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhang, H., Huang, Z., Qiu, Y. et al. Tamsulosin for treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms in women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Impot Res 29, 148–156 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijir.2017.12

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ijir.2017.12

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links