title: Estrogen effects on the vaginal pH, flora and cytology in late postmenopause after a long period without hormone therapy.
abstract: In this report we evaluated the action of conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) on vaginal symptoms, cytology, pH, and flora in late postmenopausal women without any previous hormone therapy. The study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 48 late postmenopausal women who received placebo or unopposed CEE (0.625mg/day of CEE orally) during three months of treatment. Vaginal and sexual complaints were evaluated through daily diary cards. We analyzed vaginal changes through cytology and pH measurements. After three months of treatment, 20% of placebo-treated patients and 80% of the CEE-treated patients reported improvement in vaginal dryness and irritation. In the latter group, the vaginal cells and Lactobacillus increased and the vaginal pH decreased, without other changes in sexual complaints. We concluded that estrogen ameliorated the genital tract of late postmenopausal women without any previous hormone therapy.
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics Department, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Escola de Medicina de Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Galhardo
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Simões
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Haidar
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rodrigues de Lima
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Baracat
mesh_terms: D001284:Atrophy / Q000188:drug therapy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004717:Endometrium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D004967:Estrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000188:drug therapy; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014621:Vagina / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D014626:Vaginal Smears
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); D004958:Estradiol; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone