The effect of 12 weeks of estriol cream on stress urinary incontinence post‐menopause: A prospective multinational observational study

Objective To quantitate the changes in stress urinary incontinence (SUI) outcome measures after 12 weeks of vaginal estriol cream in women with stress incontinence. Methods A prospective multicentre observational study conducted in tertiary urogynaecology centers. Postmenopausal women with pure SUI or stress predominant mixed urinary incontinence (MUI), not receiving any other treatment for their incontinence were given written instructions regarding digital application of a standard dose of vaginal estriol cream. Outcomes were measured at baseline and 12 weeks. The primary objective outcome was vaginal pH. The primary subjective outcome was the stress domain of the Urogenital Distress Inventory‐6 (UDI‐6). The secondary objective outcome used was the erect cough stress test. Two quality of life questionnaires and two patient reported outcomes were also included. Results The 46 postmenopausal recruits had a median age of 62.1 interquartile range (IQR 56.2–65.4). At follow up, the primary subjective outcome SUI domain [UDI‐6] significantly improved from 83.3 (IQR 50–100) to 33.3 (33.3–66.7, p ≤ 0.001) as did vaginal pH [from 5.1 (4.9–5.9) to 4.9 (4.6–5.0] p ≤ 0.001; 18/43 patients (42%) were dry on cough stress test. Conclusions Twelve weeks of vaginal estriol cream significantly reduced symptoms of stress urinary incontinence in this sample of postmenopausal women.