The Relationship Between Hormone Therapy and Vaginal Candidiasis in Postmenopausal Patients

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of hormone therapy on vaginal Candida infection and colonization.
STUDY DESIGN: The patients in postmenopausal period attending to gynecology clinics were entered the study prospectively. The patients were classified as hormone therapy and control groups. Patients who used hormonal therapy, immunocompromised and having hysterectomy were excluded from the study. Sample for yeast culture was taken at the beginning and again at the end of 3rd and 6th months of the study. Sabouraud dextrose agar medium was used for yeast culture and positive culture showing yeast morphology was typed with conventional and full automatic yeast identification systems. Two groups were compared with Chi-Squared and T test using SPSS 10 statistical software program and p <0.05 was accepted to be statistical significant.
RESULTS: Totally, 112 patients completed the study. Hormonal therapy group consisted of 52 patients and control group consisted of 60 patients. There was no statistical significant difference in demographic characteristics between two groups. Candida culture positivity was more frequent in the hormonal therapy group at the 3rd and 6th months of the treatment and follow up(p <0.05). But, clinical infections
were not different in two groups (p >0.05). The most frequent type of Candida isolated culture was Candida glabrata.
CONCLUSION: Hormonal therapy increases vaginal Candida colonization but not infection.