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How can vaginal estrogen cream help postmenopausal women with frequent urinary tract infections?

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The most common cause of urinary tract infection is invasion into the urethra of Escherichia coli, a type of bacterium that normally inhabits the bowel. — urinary tract infection The most common cause of urinary tract infection is invasion into the urethra of *Escherichia coli*, a type of bacterium that normally inhabits the bowel.

For postmenopausal women, frequent urinary tract infections are often linked to the natural decline in estrogen levels that occurs after menopause.1

This hormonal shift causes the vaginal epithelium—the tissue lining the vagina—to become thin, dry, and fragile. Because this tissue also supports the health of the surrounding urinary structures, its degradation reduces the body's natural defenses against the invasion of microorganisms.213

Vaginal estrogen cream helps by restoring these tissues, effectively preventing the thinning of the vaginal epithelium. By maintaining the integrity of these mucosal surfaces, the treatment strengthens the body's barrier against bacterial colonization, thereby reducing the frequency of recurrent infections.13