Gynecology Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine (Aug 2008)
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). The most frequent type of Candida isolated culture was Candida glabrata. CONCLUSION: Hormonal therapy increases vaginal Candida colonization but not infection.
