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Vaginal Hormone Therapy for Conditions of the Lower Urinary Tract

  • Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Voiding Dysfunction (J Sandhu, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Urology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Up to half of postmenopausal women experience genitourinary symptoms secondary to hormone deficiency, and there is little consensus on the use of vaginal hormone therapy (VHT) for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in these patients. This is a review of the scientific literature in the last decade evaluating the use of VHT for disorders of the lower urinary tract including overactive bladder (OAB), stress urinary incontinence (SUI), recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI), and interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (ICS/BPS).

Recent Findings

Vaginal estrogen therapy improves OAB symptoms in postmenopausal women, but results are mixed when VHT is used in combination with other treatments. There is inconclusive or limited data for the use of VHT to treat SUI and IC/BPS. Vaginal estrogen and prasterone (DHEA) therapies have demonstrated efficacy as treatment modalities for patients who experience recurrent UTIs.

Summary

VHT preparations show efficacy for the treatment of certain LUTS and can be considered in carefully selected patients when clinically indicated.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Maryland Medical Center, 22 S Greene St, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA

    Amy Nemirovsky, Natalia Arias Villela, J. Christine Yuan, Rohit Patil & Rena D. Malik

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  2. Natalia Arias Villela
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Correspondence to Rena D. Malik.

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Nemirovsky, A., Villela, N.A., Yuan, J.C. et al. Vaginal Hormone Therapy for Conditions of the Lower Urinary Tract. Curr Urol Rep 24, 41–50 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11934-022-01132-7

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