Helping older women with bladder leakage by strengthening pelvic floor muscles with testosterone
Official title: A Pilot Study to Evaluate the Anabolic Effect of Testosterone on Muscles of the Pelvic Floor in Older Women with Stress Urinary Incontinence
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11125895 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores if testosterone can help older women with stress urinary incontinence by making their pelvic floor muscles stronger.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 22, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $354,840 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK136904-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11125895 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are older women experiencing stress urinary incontinence due to weakened pelvic floor muscles.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose urinary incontinence is not related to pelvic floor muscle weakness or who cannot safely take testosterone may not benefit.
What this research studies
Many older women experience stress urinary incontinence, which is when urine leaks during activities like coughing or sneezing. This happens because the muscles supporting the bladder and other pelvic organs become weak. We know that these muscles are sensitive to hormones like testosterone. This project will give a small dose of testosterone to older women with bladder leakage to see if it can build up these important pelvic floor muscles and improve bladder control.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer a new way to strengthen pelvic floor muscles and reduce bladder leakage for older women without surgery.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical models and observational studies suggest that testosterone can increase pelvic floor muscle mass, indicating a promising approach for this pilot.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bhasin, Shalender — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Bhasin, Shalender
Related research
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Bladder health education and continence support for Black and Hispanic women in Washington, DC
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.