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| Dr. Enrique Jacome |
The hormone also strengthened urinary tract tissue by tightening the surface layer of the bladder cells, which protects the underlying cells from infection, according to the study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are usually caused by E. coli bacteria, and are more common in women than men. Some patients suffer from recurrent infections that return every few months.
In postmenopausal women, the low levels of estrogen are thought to have a role in recurrent infections by causing changes in the urinary tract that make it more vulnerable to infection. It is thought that using estrogen supplements, in the form of a low-dose cream applied to the vaginal area, may prevent recurring UTIs, said Dr. Margery Gass, the executive director for The North American Menopause Society and a gynecologist at Cleveland Clinic, who was not involved in the study. She noted that the percentage of women who develop recurrent UTIs after menopause is very small. However, the mechanism by which estrogen reduces recurrent UTIs in some postmenopausal women is not well-understood, the researchers said.
In the new study, 16 healthy postmenopausal women were given vaginal estrogen for two weeks. The researchers then examined the effects of estrogen by looking at participants’ urine, and cells of the bladder lining.
They found that in 12 participants, levels of antimicrobial proteins increased after the estrogen supplements.
Another defense strategy of the body is to shed the cells that have become infected with bacteria. However, this exposes underlying cells to bacteria, allowing the infection to progress. The researchers found that estrogen helped better connect the cells, and prevented excessive shedding.
The study showed the effects of estrogen on cells in the laboratory. In order to confirm the health benefits of estrogen supplements in people, in terms of reduced infections, further research is needed, the researchers said.
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