The presence and location of estrogen and progesterone receptors in the human pelvic cardinal ligaments

Pelvic organ prolapse and urinary stress incontinence are major problems affecting quality of life in a vast number of women. The etiology is most probably multifactorial, with a major contribution of muscular denervation during vaginal delivery, genetic factors, and the aging process. 1-4 The higher prevalence of pelvic organ prolapse and urine incontinence in the postmenopausal period suggests that the hypo-estrogenic state might play an important role in their appearance. To prove a role for sex hormones in pelvic support, one !"#$%&#'()$#)$&*)#+!,-.#/&#$!#'0.#&12.&03&#!"#)&4#%!(5!0&# receptors in these tissues. The presence of estrogen and progesterone receptors has been already established in the sacrouterine ligaments and levator-ani muscles.6-9 However, a thorough search of the English literature yielded no such studies about the cardinal ligaments, which are the most important ligaments that support the uterus. The aim of this study was to assess the presence and location of estrogen and progesterone receptors in the cardinal ligaments.