Open AccessLow Dose Oral Estriol Treatment in Elderly Women with Urogenital Infections
Author(s) -
Brandberg Åke,
Mellström Dan,
Samsioe Göran
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016348709156476
Subject(s) - estriol , genitourinary system , medicine , antibiotics , flora (microbiology) , vaginal flora , menopause , vagina , gynecology , physiology , obstetrics , surgery , hormone , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , biology , genetics
Summary Forty‐one female geriatric in‐patients with recurrent urogenital infections took part in a cross‐over intervention study with oral estriol as an alternative to antibiotics. After one month of treatment with a dosage of 3 mg/day the vaginal flora of all patients showed a dominance of Lactobacilli, whereas without estriol treatment the flora was of a fecal type in two‐third of the cases. In all women the atrophic vaginal mucosa became restored and well vascularised. Antibiotics were given 16 times more often during the period without estriol treatment. It is concluded that treatment with estriol • restores the normal premenopausal vaginal flora and mucosa • prevents urogenital infections and disorders in postmenopausal women.