We studied the vascularization of female urethra in 11 healthy premenopausal females during the midfollicular phase of the menstrual cycle and 10 healthy postmenopausal volunteers using ultrasound contrast agents with a 2–5MHz curved-array transducer by a translabial approach. Reperfusion curves were analyzed by a blinded investigator. Ultrasound contrast agents were measured with specifically designed software, and results were evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U-test.

The data suggest that the enhancement characteristics of the urethra were different in pre- and postmenopausal women and that the percent of blood volume and blood flow decreased with age. No changes were observed between pre- and postmenopausal women regarding the velocity of blood flow.

The study of female urethra vascularization by ultrasound contrast agents is safe, feasible, and noninvasive.

Salvatore Siracusano^a, Michele Bertolotto^b, Antonio Cucchi^c, Nikolitsa Lampropoulou^a, Anna Tiberio^a, Cristiana Gasparini^b, Stefano Ciciliato^a, Emanuele Belgrano<sup>a

a</sup> Department of Urology, Trieste University, Italy
^b Department of Radiology, Trieste University, Italy
^c Department of Urology, San Matteo Hospital, Pavia, Italy

Accepted 30 May 2006 published online 16 June 2006.