The nurse is discussing urinary elimination alterations with a group of middle-age adults. The nurse appropriately shares with the group that whereas men experience urinary frequency as a re-sult of prostate enlargement, the female:

Question

1. Is more affected if she has experienced multiple pregnancies
2. Does not usually experience urinary problems until much later in life
3. Experiences an increased risk for urinary tract infections related to menopause
4. Appears to have less risk for kidney infections because of gradually declining es-trogen levels

Answer 1

ANS: 3
Aging often impairs micturition. In the male, prostate enlargement usually begins during the 40s and continues throughout life, resulting in urinary frequency and possible urinary retention. In women, changes in the urethral mucosa associated with loss of estrogen during and after meno-pause contribute to increased susceptibility to UTIs. Although pregnancies may affect urinary continence, decreased estrogen levels do not protect against kidney infections.