Estrogen receptor expression and vascularization of anterior vaginal wall after local estrogen supplement in postmenopausal women with urinary incontinence

Estrogen receptor expression and vascularization of anterior vaginal wall after local estrogen supplement in postmenopausal women with urinary incontinence

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of local vaginal estrogen supplement on estrogen receptor expression and vascularization of anterior vaginal wall in post-menopausal women with stress urinary incontinence. Methods: Twenty-five post-menopausal women who were to receive anti-incontinence surgery were invited to participate. Women in the estrogen supplement group applied topical estrogen cream vaginally at a dose of 1g every two days. Immunohistochemical staining for estrogen receptor β and CD34 (endothelial cell marker of blood vessels) was performed on anterior vaginal wall tissue samples. Data was compared between the estrogen supplement group and the control group. Results: There were no significant differences in ERβ ratio or number of CD34 stained blood vessels between the groups. Conclusion: ERβ expression and vascularization did not increase after vaginal estrogen supplement in postmenopausal women with stress urinary incontinence.