Effects of low dose estrogen therapy on the vaginal microbiomes of women with atrophic vaginitis.
Atrophic vaginitis (AV) is common in postmenopausal women, but its causes are not well understood. The symptoms, which include vaginal itching, burning, dryness, irritation, and dyspareunia, can usually be alleviated by low doses of estrogen given orally or locally. Regrettably, the composition of vaginal bacterial communities in women with AV have not been fully characterized and little is known as to how these communities change over time in response to hormonal therapy. In the present intervention study we determined the response of vaginal bacterial communities in postmenopausal women with AV to low-dose estrogen therapy. The changes in community composition in response to hormonal therapy were rapid and typified by significant increases in the relative abundance of Lactobacillus spp. that were mirrored by a decreased relative abundance of Gardnerella. These changes were paralleled by a significant four-fold increase in serum estradiol levels and decreased vaginal pH, as well as nearly a two-fold increase in the Vaginal Maturation Index (VMI). The results suggest that after menopause a vaginal microbiota dominated by species of Lactobacillus may have a beneficial role in the maintenance of health and these findings that could lead to new strategies to protect postmenopausal women from AV.
Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China, 200025.|Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai, China, 200025.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China, 200025.
Jian
J
Shen
Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China, 200025.|Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai, China, 200025.
Ning
N
Song
Departments of Statistical Science, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, 83844, Russia.|Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies (IBEST), University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, 83844, Russia.
Christopher J
CJ
Williams
Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, 83844, Russia.|Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies (IBEST), University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, 83844, Russia.
Celeste J
CJ
Brown
Reproductive Medicine Center, Shanghai Ninth Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China, 200025.
Zheng
Z
Yan
Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China, 200025.|Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai, China, 200025.
Chen
C
Xu
Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, 83844, Russia.|Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies (IBEST), University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, 83844, Russia.
Larry J
LJ
Forney
D059268:Atrophic Vaginitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D058491:Bacterial Load; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D016975:Gardnerella / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D064307:Microbiota / Q000187:drug effects*; D014621:Vagina / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*
D004967:Estrogens