Frequent UTIs

It's common for postmenopausal women to experience recurrent symptoms that seem like a UTI - urinary frequency, urinary urgency, pain with urination, and vaginal dryness. For many postmenopausal women, the best approach to prevent UTIs is not antibiotics (as though treating an infection) but vaginal estrogen therapy.

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Frequent UTIs and menopause

Recurrent UTIs are a sign of what's medically known as vaginal atrophy or the genitourinary syndrome of menopause.

When estrogen declines during menopause, significant changes occur in the vaginal environment. This includes a reduction in collagen and elastin, decreased blood supply to the tissues, and a shift in vaginal pH. These changes can lead to pain that feels like a UTI, it may also lower the barrier for bacteria to sneak up into the urinary tract and cause infection.

Unlike hot flashes, all of this will not magically go away. It will likely get worse, so it’s best to address it sooner rather than later.

How to prevent UTIs after menopause

If you’re going through or are well past menopause, vaginal estrogen can help improve the health of the tissues, balance the vaginal environment, and protect against UTI recurrence. In one study, 68% of postmenopausal women treated with vaginal estrogen did not receive additional therapy.

Want to know more?

Vaginal estrogen cream: Topical estrogen cream can target the underlying cause of UTIs. It's highly effective at treating vaginal atrophy and it's been around for decades, so we know a lot about its efficacy and safety.
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