Tamsulosin for the treatment of Voiding Dysfunction in Women – A Review

Abstract

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) have high prevalence worldwide in the aging population including both, men and women and with the advancing age, the incidence of LUTS continues to increase. Interference of the symptoms with the daily activities has a negative impact on the quality of life of many individuals. Apart from watchful waiting and surgery, medical therapies have shown to provide significant control of LUTS. α1- adrenergic receptor blockers are used as first-line therapy for men to alleviate Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) induced urinary symptoms. Similar underlying etiology of LUTS in men and women proposes the utility of α1-adrenergic receptor blockers for female lower urinary tract symptoms (FLUTS). Tamsulosin, the highly uroselective α1-adrenergic receptor blocker, has steadily borne positive results in symptomatic management of FLUTS. Improvement in quality of life has been a vital criteria in the assessment of the efficacy of Tamsulosin. All the reviewed studies substantiate the safety and tolerability of Tamsulosin. Numerous clinical trials of Tamsulosin in women suggest the suitability of Tamsulosin as an appropriate therapeutic option for management of female LUTS.