Effect of oral estriol on urogenital symptoms, vaginal cytology, and plasma hormone level in postmenopausal women.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of oral estriol on urogenital symptoms, vaginal cytology, and plasma follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol level in postmenopausal women with urogenital symptoms. METHOD: Twenty-eight postmenopausal women with urogenital symptoms who volunteered to participate in this study received 2 mg of oral estriol daily for 12 weeks. The urogenital symptoms, vaginal cytology, and plasma hormone level before and after treatment were analysed using paired t-test. RESULTS: The genital and urological symptoms improved (P < 0.05) after treatment in all subjects. The vaginal cytology showed estrogenic effect on the karyopyknotic index and maturation value. There was a significantly (P < 0.05) higher level of plasma estradiol after 12 weeks of treatment. However, the difference of plasma FSH level before and after treatment was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The daily oral estriol had a positive effect on the urogenital symptoms and vaginal cytology. The plasma estradiol increased after 12 weeks of treatment but the plasma FSH did not change.