Recurring UTIs in perimenopause, has HRT or vaginal oestrogen helped?

[Sleepy21]

I did post this in Women’s Health but I was meant to post it here! Looking for some reassurance there may be light at the end of the tunnel! Since Feb I have had 3 UTIs having never had this issue - maybe one 20 years or so ago! On my third one now 🙁 and been given 7 days of ABs and loathed to take them as I’ve had so many recently! Last UTI I ended up in A&E. I am 43 and due to start HRT and the GP I saw today has also prescribed me some vaginal oestrogen cream as she thinks the UTIs are due to vaginal dryness etc which I have been experiencing. I am beyond fed up - anyone who’s had recurring UTIs had good results with HRT and/or oestrogen cream? Can anyone offer any other tips to help - am already drinking lots of water, taking D- mannose, limiting caffeine and just don’t know what else to do! Luckily with the UTIs I don’t have bad pain but just urgency and an ‘uncomfortable feeling’ - urine dip showed leukocytes and blood trace but no nitrites and has been sent off to the lab - same story as last time!

Imo your GP has done the right thing. Low/fluctuating oestrogen leads to vaginal atrophy, a change in vaginal ph from and uti/nocturia/urgency.

If I were you I'd try the oestrogen cream, inside and out (to avoid clitoral atrophy) every day for 3 weeks, which is the usual loading dose and then see how you feel.

I had this after hysterectomy. After they had checked to see that there was no other physical cause they prescribed Vagifem. It was a miracle. Insert 3 times a week. Very small tablet.

I use vaginal oestrogen cream. It has been an absolute game changer.

Yes, increasing my HRT and using vaginal oestrogen stopped my UTI's.

Probably not UTIs, I had similar results. I think personally the pessaries plus external cream has worked best for me, alternating days. I’m under urogynaecology though.

Thank you all for your responses - was pleased to hear everyone has had a positive experience with oestrogen cream/pessaries! Been using it since Thursday, and I think I am already having a slight improvement but I don't know if that is in my head! I assume full benefits will take a while? Using the cream and applicator is taking some getting used to though - going to carry on with it until the cream finishes, but may ask for pessaries instead for the next prescription