E-Posters-Urethral, Bladder, and Peri-urethral Microbiota Differ Based on Age, Menopausal Status, and Sexual Activity

Urethral, Bladder, and Peri-urethral Microbiota Differ Based on Age, Menopausal Status, and Sexual Activity - Yufan B Chen, MD

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A study conducted by researchers at Loyola University Medical Center and Loyola University Chicago aimed to examine how the microbiota of the female lower urinary tract differs across demographic and clinical factors. The study included 49 women with a median age of 55 years, most of whom were post-menopausal and sexually active. The researchers found that the urethral, bladder, and peri-urethral microbiota differed based on age, menopausal status, and sexual activity. Younger women were more likely to have Lactobacillus and Gardnerella cultured from urethral samples compared to women over the age of 55. The prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms was also recorded, with 69% of women experiencing urge urinary incontinence, 80% experiencing stress urinary incontinence, 33% experiencing pelvic organ prolapse, 18% experiencing lower abdominal/bladder pain symptoms, and 6% experiencing dysuria. The study also found that certain bacterial species, such as Aerococcus and Alloscardovia, were more frequently isolated and at higher abundances in women with specific symptoms. However, more studies with larger sample sizes are needed to determine whether the microbiota correlates with lower urinary tract symptoms. The researchers concluded that the bladder is not sterile and is colonized by communities of bacteria, and that these bacteria may play a role in the function of the female lower urinary tract. The study's findings emphasize the importance of understanding the microbial diversity in the female lower urinary tract and its potential implications for urinary tract health.

Keywords

microbiota

female lower urinary tract

age

menopausal status

sexual activity

lower urinary tract symptoms

bacterial species

urge urinary incontinence

stress urinary incontinence

urinary tract health