The effect of estriol on the cytology of urethra and vagina in postmenopausal women with genito-urinary symptoms.

In a double-blind, randomised trial, 62 postmenopausal women with genito-urinary symptoms were treated with oestriol or matching placebo for 4 weeks. Estriol (Synapause-E3, Nourypharma Nederland) was given orally for 4 weeks in a single daily dose (8 mg/day first week, 4 mg/day second and third week, 2 mg/day fourth week). The influence of estriol on the vaginal and urethral epithelium was assessed by using the karyopycnotic index and the maturation value. As we expected, it was confirmed that estriol has a remarkably beneficial effect on the vaginal epithelium. This also applies to the epithelium of the urethra, although the effect is much less obvious.