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Effects of protracted administration of estriol on the lower genito urinary tract in postmenopausal women

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Summary

We investigated 80 postmenopausal women, 48 of whom (60%) agreed to undergo long-term treatment with estriol suppositories. All had symptoms of vaginal atrophy and urinary incontinence. Endometrial samples were taken after 8–10 years of therapy. Estriol had induced slight proliferative changes in the endometrium in 7 of 48 patients studied by endometrial sampling. 75% of the women reported significant subjective improvement of stress incontinence. Estriol supplementation did not produce any significant change in urethral pressure, functional length, or cystometric parameters. However, a significant increase in pressure transmission ratio to the proximal urethra was noted after vaginal medication with estriol. Replacement therapy in post-menopausal women must take into account the patients perception of risks and benefits. The risk of estriol treatment is insignificant.

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Iosif, C.S. Effects of protracted administration of estriol on the lower genito urinary tract in postmenopausal women. Arch Gynecol Obstet 251, 115–120 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02718372

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