In this review, the principal morphological and functional changes which occur
in relationship to aging in both the genital tract and lower urinary tract are discussed.
Aging of the upper urinary tract is not considered.
Much of the evidence for age-related changes comes from cross-sectional studies
with their inherent methodological limitations. Furthermore, it is difficult to
accept ‘normal aging’ criteria that do not take into consideration
the role of the acute and chronic disease so prevalent in elderly people. Thus, more
longitudinal studies are needed in order to provide a more exact analysis of the
influence of aging on the urogenital system, as for all other systems of the body.