In order to explain phage therapy for recurrent UTIs, and why it may be helpful, it’s best if we start with a question: What are bacteriophages?
Though it may be a creepy thought, our bodies are not just made up of human cells. Our bodies are a world of their own, composed of viruses and an estimated 10,000 species of bacteria.
Our microbiomes help us digest food and absorb nutrients, they produce vitamins and anti-inflammatories, and they are absolutely necessary for our survival. But, like any world, our microbiomes need checks and balances, and this is where bacteriophages come in.
Article Quick Links
- What Is A Bacteriophage? >>>>
- What Is Bacteriophage Therapy? >>>>
- Is Phage Therapy An Alternative to Antibiotics? >>>>
- A Phage Therapy Success – Patti’s Story. >>>>
- How Much Does Phage Therapy Cost? >>>>
- Where Can I Access Phage Therapy For UTI? >>>>
What Is A Bacteriophage?
Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are viruses that infect and destroy specific bacteria. For example, phage VB_EcoS-Golestan has been shown to target E. Coli, one of the most common UTI causing bacteria.
While phages and their fascinatingly sci-fi appearance may be new to many of us, they are actually thought to be the most abundant organism on the planet. They occur naturally throughout the human body, but those in the urinary tract aren’t well understood.
One thing that has been established – bacteriophages do occur in the bladder. How do we know? Well, when a bacterium comes in close contact with their specialized phage, the phage inserts some of its own genome into the bacteria.
When researchers looked at bacteria in the bladder, they found that 86% of bladder bacteria contain some phage genome. This indicates that phages are present in the same environment as their bacterial counterparts – in this case, the bladder.
What Is Bacteriophage Therapy?
Bacteriophage therapy dates way back to 1919, when phages were first used in birds to protect against Salmonella gallinarum. And though discovered almost a century ago, the western research into phage therapy was largely abandoned after penicillin was proven to be an effective antibiotic.
Now, with the rise of antibiotic and multidrug resistance, phage therapy has once again become more popular in western research. In fact, some studies have predicted that all pathogens will have 100% antibiotic resistance in the coming years.
It’s clear that finding alternatives to antibiotics is urgent and necessary, and bacteriophage therapy is a promising prospect.
Phage therapy utilizes the fact that bacteriophages only attack specific species or strains of bacteria. The phages must be isolated from their environment before being given to humans.
One study suggestested that the best way to attain clinically relevant phages may be from hospital sewage and wastewater, where there are high concentrations of resistant bacteria. This could provide the best chance of identifying and using phages that are already successfully attacking resistant bacteria.
How Does Phage Therapy Work?
There are two types of phages: virulent and temperate phages. Phage type is determined by the life cycle phase. Only virulent phages are used in phage therapy and these are in what is known as the lytic cycle.
In the lytic cycle, the phage attaches to the bacteria and inserts its genome. This allows the phage to hijack the bacterial cell, using the cell’s own machinery to create more phages. The produced phages then break out of, or lyse, the cell, killing the bacteria.
The way phages work is pretty spectacular, really. They use the bacterial cell’s own mechanisms to create more phages from inside the bacterial cell, then they break free of the cell, killing it in the process.
The newly produced phages can then go on to infect more of this species of bacteria. The phages will continue to repeat this cycle until there are no further bacteria of this species left to infect, and they will then die out themselves. A particular phage cannot infect other species of bacteria, so the healthy bacteria that make up the microbiome remain untouched.
The other type of phage, temperate phages, use the lysogenic cycle. In the lysogenic cycle, the phage also attaches to the bacteria and inserts its genome. But in the lysogenic cycle, the phage genome remains dormant within the bacterial cell and only creates phages when the right trigger occurs.
In this case, the phage genome becomes incorporated in the bacterial DNA. Some temperate phage genomes may actually offer the bacteria antibiotic resistance. Obviously, this is exactly what treatment is aiming to avoid. For this reason, temperate or lysogenic phages are not used in bacteriophage therapy.
Can Phage Therapy Be Used To Treat UTIs?
Short answer: It seems likely! But it’s important to note that phage therapy is still under research in the U.S. and is not clinically validated. This is primarily due to a lack of randomized control trials.
 | “We need modern science to help us understand what the role of phage therapy is, when it’s needed, when it’s safe, how it should be applied. And although we know there are pockets of the world where therapy is being administered, we just don’t have the scientific rigor to understand what’s going on there.” |
Though it is not currently a clinically viable option in the U.S., research has demonstrated the effectiveness of various forms of bacteriophage therapy:
1. Monophage Therapy
Monophage therapy refers to the use of a single phage type which attacks a single species of bacteria. This form of therapy may lead to resistance as the bacteria can learn to protect against this one type of phage.
2. Polyphage or Phage Cocktail Therapy
Polyphage or phage cocktail therapy refers to the use of two or more phage types that attack multiple species of bacteria. These have been found to be effective in treating biofilms.
3. Engineered or Genetically Modified Phage Therapy
Engineered or genetically modified phages are phages that are specifically coded to combat multiple drug resistance and biofilms.
4. Phage Therapy Combined with Antibiotic Therapy
Phage therapy in combination with antibiotics may be the most effective use of phages. By breaking up biofilms, phages allow for the deeper penetration of antibiotics.
Is Phage Therapy An Alternative to Antibiotics?
With the growing number of antimicrobial resistant bacterial strains, it is imperative that we find alternatives to antibiotics. According to the World Health Organization, already 60% of pathogenic bacteria are resistant to antibiotics.
Many antibiotics commonly used for UTIs, such as ampicillin, cotrimoxazole, cephalosporins, and amoxicillin, already have strains of bacteria that are resistant to them.
As mentioned above, phage therapy is thought to be most effective when used in combination with antibiotics. However, some studies have looked at the use of phage therapy alone. The most beneficial approach is likely to depend on the specific situation.
Phages, unlike antibiotics, do not destabilize the microbiome. Antibiotics wipe out large swaths of bacteria, leaving vacancies that allow other harmful bacteria to grow disproportionately. This can lead to an imbalance in the microbiome.
On the other hand, with phage therapy, once the bacteria that the phage targets have been killed, the phages have nothing left to attack and will leave the body in the urine or feces. Research has also shown that phages may be able to help stabilize the bacterial metabolism and community structure.
How Are Bacteriophages Delivered To The Bladder?
Phage cocktails may be delivered through an IV, and research is even looking into direct application to the bladder. Some studies tested delivering phages orally, however, this method may only be effective with higher dosages.
Phage therapy may be used to offer relief from a number of bacterial infections, but is most commonly used for chronic or recurrent infections of antibiotic resistant bacteria. For example, there has been a recent focus on phage therapy for Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in those with cystic fibrosis.
How Can Phage Therapy Help Against Persistent Infection?
Persistent or recurrent infections can occur when the antibiotics given to treat a UTI do not wipe out the pathogenic bacteria, allowing it to repopulate once again. In fact, 68% of recurrent UTIs are caused by bacteria identical to the strain that caused the primary infection.
Persistent bacteria can create biofilms which adhere to and invade the bladder lining. After invasion of the bladder lining, some species of bacteria can create reservoirs, which are isolated colonies deeper in the bladder cell layers. These reservoirs are also called Intracellular Bacterial Communities (IBCs).
Once hidden under the surface in biofilms or IBCs, the bacteria are protected from both our immune system and antibiotics. Biofilm structures are 1000 times more resistant to antibiotics than free floating bacteria.
What Can We Do When Biofilms Are Involved?
Phages have been shown to infiltrate biofilms, and when paired with antibiotics, may have a synergistic effect in deconstructing these protected colonies.
Another angle to consider here, is limiting access to the nutrients needed for the construction of biofilms. For example, iron is essential for the processes bacteria use to create biofilms. Limiting access to iron or introducing ions that attract iron and reduce its bioavailability may help in the reduction of biofilms.
A Phage Therapy Success – Patti’s Story
By 2018, Patti’s Klebsiella UTIs had gotten so bad that she had to be on continuous IV antibiotics.
 | “None of the antibiotics were killing the bacteria, all they were doing was suppressing it. But, eventually, I got to the point where I felt the antibiotics themselves were killing me.” Patti Swearingen, US, Patient |
With her health quickly declining, her family desperately searched for other answers to her seemingly unsolvable UTIs. It was her son who stumbled upon phage therapy.
Although at first reluctant, desperation prompted Patti to seek out help in Tbilisi, Georgia at the Phage Therapy Center. It took 5-6 weeks to make the custom phage cocktail, but once finished, Patti got on a flight from the United States to Georgia (while still on IV antibiotics).
Within 24 hours of arrival, Patti started her two-week phage therapy treatment and began feeling better immediately. Subsequent E. Coli infections that arose in her newly vacated urethra were easily treated with antibiotics. After the E. coli infections were eradicated, she was symptom free for 11 months. Her life, which had been struck into disarray by her deteriorating health, was restored.
Triggered by a traumatic family event, the Klebsiella returned. Between COVID restrictions and the FDA ban on imported phages, Patti has been unable to pursue further phage therapy.
Current phage therapy studies have offered similar success stories for recurrent UTI patients. Access in the U.S. is limited, and if you do manage to be enrolled in a phage therapy study, it will likely take over a year to be administered the phages.
Though phage therapy is a promising treatment option, it requires time, money, and dedication to pursue. Even more importantly, it must be administered correctly. Like any other medical technology, it’s unlikely to be an end all be all treatment. And as with all recurrent UTI treatment options, phage therapy cannot guarantee prolonged health.
How Much Does Phage Therapy Cost?
Phage therapy is not clinically available in the United States, so those who are interested in phage therapy must travel to a clinic abroad or enroll in a clinical trial.
The Phage Therapy Center in Georgia offers treatment to patients all around the world for about $3,000-$5,000, depending on the treatment. This cost, however, does not include travel, lodging, or additional expenses for tests on bacterial samples. In Patti’s experience, the total cost for the treatment was $7,000.
Where Can I Access Phage Therapy For UTI?
Medical tourism for phage therapy brings many patients to Central and Eastern Europe each year. Belgium, Poland, Russia, and Georgia all have prominent phage therapy centers.
Effective phage therapy treatment requires the specific phage for the infection and, in many cases, infections may be caused by more than one organism.
In order to be treated at the Phage Therapy Center in Tbilisi, Georgia, patients ship bacterial samples to the lab so it can be determined which phage cocktail will be appropriate to treat the infection. Once determined, scientists in the lab create a personalized phage cocktail for the patient.
“Bacterial strains’ sensitivities to antibiotics and phages vary by region. They create the preparations in Georgia for the local region, because they have the most strains there, but if someone from America comes in, there’s about a 60:40 chance their infection is sensitive to these phages, and otherwise they have to make a custom cocktail for them.” Chris Smith, CEO of Phage International Inc.
Ordering phages online may be tempting but should be advised against, particularly if the specific bacterial strain or set of bacteria causing the infection is unknown. Regulations do not allow the shipment of phages into the U.S. once ordered, so it’s best to avoid this practice.
Clinical Trials For Phage Therapy
Another route to phage therapy treatment may be to enroll in a study. The Center for Innovative Phage Applications and Therapeutics (IPATH) at the University of California, San Diego is currently conducting phage therapy trials and research. However, these studies are very exclusive. Participants must pass through rounds of qualifications before acceptance.
In a recent study about IV bacteriophage therapy out of IPATH, each participant needed FDA approval under a single-use IND (Investigational New Drug) application. A successful application required evidence of clinical need, proof of bacterial susceptibility to phages, genetic characterization of phages, lack of lysogenic phage activity, and sterility of the final phage product.
This process is long for both the patient and the researcher, but it is also symbolic of the larger struggle against chronic bacterial infections. Unfortunately, we don’t yet have a quick fix for chronic UTIs, but the research into phage therapy offers hope for non-antibiotic treatment and a respite from those long nights glued to the toilet wishing the pain away.
Other Recurrent UTI Treatment Approaches
Given the complicated nature of recurrent and chronic UTI, there is no single treatment approach that will work for every individual. For this reason, we’ve covered various approaches to recurrent UTI treatment.
Before pursuing a particular treatment path, it’s crucial to identify the root cause of the issue. Lower urinary tract symptoms can be caused by many different conditions that may contribute to infection, or result in infection-like symptoms.
Consulting with a specialist who is familiar with recurrent UTI and the possible causes is often the best place to start. Such a practitioner may recommend more accurate UTI testing or other investigations, depending on the patient’s history and symptoms.
If you have questions about the next steps to take, you can always send us a direct message.
Comments
Hello I’m a 56 year old lady who had a hysterectomy thirteen years ago but the last three years I keep getting UTIs , I eat berries and have soya milk to drink and have flax seeds every day on my cereal , I try to eat healthy and never smoked or drink alcohol. I drink five to six pints of water a day plus herbal teas, I’m on nitrofaurtion low dose but when I come off them I get another infection, I’ve tried topical hrt but when it gets in my system I get faint and nearly pass out and dizzy spells so now I’m at a loss what to do, I’m afraid to have sex with my lovely husband and I’m under a urologist but he says it’s my Estrogen level, I’m scared that I will be on antibiotics forever or worse bladder cancer, please can you advise me I’m so fed up , many thanks.
Hi Mandy, I just sent you an email with links to some resources that I hope you find helpful. Melissa
The way I got rid of my UTI /I am post menopausal also. It was difficult. I fasted immediately for periods of time. No food until late afternoon. During this time I drank Linden berry tea that had cooled. I used the actual leaves from the countryside. I then took lactobaccillus pills, ate fermented pickles, sour kraur, vit. c., hemp seeds ground myself and goat yogurt and loads of diluted cranberry and pomegranate juice. At the end of 2 to 3 weeks, I took collodial silver 30ppm *tsp in 8 ounces of water with all the fermented food. It left slowly but surely! I am staying on the fermented food train because it also gave me loads of energy.
Hi Laura, it’s great to hear you found something that worked for you! Melissa
I was just diagnosed with pelvic prolapse. Which aggravates my tendency to get UTIs I think. Trying physical therapy for the prolapse. The E-String estrogen causes pelvic pain and had a reaction to the estrogen cream. Are there natural bioidentical estrogens that can help?
Hi Jan, we have heard from a handful of people that switching to a different cream has helped, however, it’s always best to speak with your clinician about alternatives. Melissa
What about estrogen dominance?
Hi Catherine, that is a really great question. As far as we know there hasn’t been any work done regarding estrogen dominance and the microbiome. We’ll certainly keep an eye out for new research in this space and let you know if we find anything! Susy
My urologist would like me to start Hiprex for frequent UTI’s. I am skeptical about drug as heard it turns urine to formaldehyde? Any comments about this drug?
Hi Jean, it is true that Hiprex goes through a process that forms formaldehyde in the urine, and that this contributes to its known antimicrobial properties. Hiprex is commonly used as part of one long term treatment protocol utilised in the UK. I just sent you an email with some notes on this. I hope it helps. Melissa
Hi
I am post menopausal, have BV and IC with a high PH in my vagina. My IC symptoms are lower abdominal pain and severe urethral burning. I am due to do the urine broth test next month to check for embedded bacteria . I have discussed oestrogen therapy with my specialist ( Dr Anderson, I live in the UK) who has said it is my choice whether to start this before the broth test. I am very unsure what to do first, oestrogen or treatment for bacteria, if found ? Any thoughts ?
Thanks very much
Susan
What an EXCEPTIONAL piece of work! Thank you for your time and great efforts!
Thank you! 🙂
Hi Susan, I just sent you an email as I’m not sure if you’re receiving comment notifications. Melissa
I am using estriol/ovestin cream. How long can I use it and can I use it everyday? I have been having recurrent UTIs. Thanks
Hi Rose, the studies linked to above indicate that its use should be safe for most people but it’s best to speak with your prescribing doctor about this. Melissa
I suffer from recurring UTIs. My question is: how long can I safely continue using Hormone therapy if I apply it daily
Hi Mary, that’s a great question. I have added it to our list for the experts. We share expert insights by email whenever we can. If you’d like to join our mailing list so you can stay informed, you can sign up here. Melissa
I have at least a 15 year history of recurrent uti’s and have tried everything. The only long periods without infection have been when I am on a long term low dose antibiotic but as soon as I stop the uti’s return. I am currently on macrobid which my ob feels is safe because it mainly effects the bladder and not the whole body. I am also on Premarin applied to the urethra. I have been feeling great the past few months but read that low dose antibiotics have bad effects over time. Can you comment on this strategy?
I have been on macrobid and always get a bout of colitis while I am on it
Hi Pat, we do hear from some people that antibiotics cause digestive issues for them, however it varies from person to person, so it’s best to work with a practitioner through your options. If you’re looking for a practitioner, send us a direct message with your location and we can share some names. Susy
Hi Nita, as we aren’t clinicians we can’t comment specifically on a strategy, but we have covered the research into prophylactic antibiotic use here, if you’d like to read more. Melissa
I had recurrent UTIs for about 3 years after menopause. I started using Premarin vaginal estrogen cream and haven’t had a UTI since. It’s been at least four years since my last one. My question is, how long can I safely continue? I’m going to be turning 60 in a couple months. If I eventually stop using the HRT will the UTIs return? I’m not sure I could live through that again. I was getting them every 3 months, almost like clockwork. But, I don’t want to put my long term health in jeopardy.
Hi Marie, as mentioned in the article, it does appear that use of topical estrogen is safe for the majority of people, however, it’s always best to discuss with a doctor. The link shared above leads to a systematic review of research into the use of vaginal estrogen, so it has a lot of helpful information. Melissa
Thank you, Melissa!
I’m desperate for help, these reoccurring UTI’s are taking over my life and making me miserable constantly. I’ll take an antibiotic, feel good and then it’s back again, try another regimen of antibiotics and back. Sometimes I’ll go for a routine checkup and won’t have symptoms but a uti shows up anyways. I’ve had a bladder lift 10 years ago. I’m 51 and have been in menopause for a while.
Hi Michelle, I sent you an email with some information. You might also like to read our article about recurrent vs. chronic UTI, if you haven’t already. Melissa
I am wondering of any more holistic ways to treat infections. Currently with a bad bug Klebsella Pneumonae.. I have been on and off abx this year which I feel has killed my gut.. Looking for hope… also of any success stories with the use of tge Urmune vaccine
Hi Shannon, we aren’t aware of how the Uromune vaccine can be accessed in the US. If you have information on that can you please let us know by direct message? Many people will be interested. We have heard some success stories with the vaccine from Europe. I saw you also sent us an email so I’ve replied there with more information. Melissa
Hi,
Thanks so much for the great article. Since menopause I unfortunately suffer from UTIs, mostly after intercourse. I try to stay away from antibiotics and use D mannose which helps me quite a bit. I’m wondering if probiotic pills would also be helpful as a preventative measure?
Hi Ruth, research indicates that certain strains of probiotics may be beneficial and that these strains may be different for pre- and post-menopause. We’ve covered this in more detail and you can read more here. Melissa
The estrogen cream was terrible for me. I’d completed menopause almost twenty years previously. After using the estrogen cream for about ten days my vulva swelled up like a cauliflower, causing horrible pain. It took well over two weeks after I stopped the cream for it to return to normal. For a week I could actually feel my uterus, as if I had resumed menstrual cramps. I think maybe it would work better in women who still had estrogen in their systems.
I’ve e had utis throughout my life. I have been through breast cancer in last year which put me into menopause. I am taking tamoxifen for next 5 years. As my oestrogen levels deplete i am experiencing constant pressure on my bladder that often leads to utis. The samples sent to lab often come back negative but i am given antibiotics anyway and it feels like an infection. I am taking vaginal oestrogen but this doesn’t seem to make any difference to getting infections. I dont want to face a future with this its debilitating and i worry about becoming resistant to antibiotics. I would love to hear about your regime… I take d-mannose tablets too
Hi Emma, can you send me a direct message and let me know where you’re based so I can email you relevant information? Thanks! Melissa
My.mother is suffering from recurrent utis..its not curing..we have done everything..and now my mother is antibiotic sensitive..my mother have e.coli..which is not eliminating..if someone have sure shot solution plz plz plz rply me..its very imp for the life of my mom..plz helo
Hi Singh, there is no sure shot solution but I hope we can share information that will help. I just sent you an email. If you don’t see it, please check your spam folder. Melissa
Hi Tobi, sorry to hear you experienced that! I also got your direct message so I’ve replied by email with more information. Melissa
I’m new to utis. I’ve gone through 3 courses of antibiotics and it has come back again. I’m nervous about this. Any advice would be appreciated. I think I’m very close to menopause.
I’ve suffered with UTI since a teenager. I always get given antibiotics but they always say no bacteria. I’ve been clear for a good few years now but had a UTI in December. Thought it had cleared and had another beginning of June. Had antibiotics but gp said culture was clear. I take probiotics and gp has agreed to use vaginal oestrogen. I am on day ,8 of the initial two week dose. It was all good until today when my symptoms returned. I’m hoping it’s just a glitch
Hi Sharon, if you haven’t already, you might like to read our information on why UTI test results could be negative, even when you have a UTI. Melissa
Hi Kimberly, can you send us a direct message and let us know where you’re based, so we can share any appropriate resources via email? Melissa
My doctor had me on estrogen but stop it when I was still getting UTI’s even on the estorgen
vagifem vaginal suppository twice weekly seems to keep the utis under control. However switching to generic form did not work!
Hi Ellen, that’s great to hear you’ve found something that works for you. If you have any questions, you can always reach out directly. Melissa
I use estrogen pessaries twice a week but am suffering with recurrent UTIs. This has gone on for nearly 3 years since I had a bladder repair following VVF after hysterectomy. Urologist wants me to try Hiprex for 6 months. Does anyone have any experience of this medication? Also I was told I had painful bladder syndrome but urologist now wants to do cystoscopy under GA to rule this out. I’m so fed up. I just want to be symptom free!
Hi Liz, I just emailed you some information about Hiprex. I hope it helps. Melissa
I am new to this UTI issue, and the fact you went 4 years is beyond crazy. It all started with UTI symptoms urgency, pain, burning, and a horrible yeasty smell urine. No blood in the UTI. I want to my Gyno Dr. My apt was fine pee in cup get Pap test. But when I was leaving he did not give me a prescription for a UTI he said the dipstick did not show one but they were sending out to lab. I should take OTC AZO drug that causes your pee to be bright orange. This did not work. I finally called the Dr office back after 2 weeks and they said I did have an infection they called in a prescription. Sulfa but it was only oddly a 5 day prescription which seemed very short. It worked but came back I called my Dr to get more medicine. The tinge of UTI still lingers and burning.
Hi Heather, I see you also sent us a direct message so I’ve replied there. Melissa
Hi Dena, I hope you can find another solution. I see you also sent us an email and we’ve shared some more info there. Melissa
D-Mannose used to stop a bout of cystitis if I took it early enough. But now I’ve read that there might be side effects.
Hi Xenia, we’ve covered D-mannose in more detail here, if you’d like to read further information about it. Melissa
This article makes perfect sense to me. I have been supplementing with probiotics on a daily basis for many years now but it’s been a couple of months since I started getting flatulence so I included kombucha and enzymes in my diet thinking that i might have dysbiosis due to antibiotics that I’d taken for cystitis. I had been using Estradiol 25mcg 3 times a week for a couple of years then the doctor reduced it to 10mcg 3x a week and I noticed discomfort during intercourse. I had no idea that this could be related to more bouts of cystitis.
Hi Xenia, we hear from a lot people with similar experiences that have found estrogen cream helpful. It’s clear that we need more research into this area! Melissa
WOW. I have no history of UTIs and suddenly got one that I cannot get rid of. The bacteria that continuously coming back is enterococcus faecalis and it will not eradicate!!! I’ve been on 5 different rounds of antibiotics all of which it was supposed be sensitive to but it remains and my symptoms persist. Strangely, this happened two months after I got off my birth control pill that I had been on for years! Any advice for me? My husband and I were wanting to start a family but now… I feel I have to wait until I get healthy but the likelihood feels like it is slipping away…
Hi Lizzy, can you send us a direct message with this information and let us know where you’re based? Melissa
Great info here. What is the opinion on Utiva? Thank you.
Hi Sarah, we don’t provide information about specific products, though we do have some info about cranberry for UTI, which I believe Utiva is based on. Melissa
I used estrogen suppositories to soften the tissues of my Urethra, but found it to difficult to keep up with, so my doctor prescribed eString which is inserted and left inside the urethra. Could not decide whether that was helping much, but it had a bad effect on my mammograms, so I was told to remove the eString. I haven’t gone back to it, and want nothing more to do with estrogen.
Hi Emily, thanks for sharing your experience. More research is definitely needed into recurrent UTI treatment approaches and who they may or may not be suitable for. Melissa
Great article. Thank you! Could this apply to women with PCOS also?
Can having the Marina(I think that’s how you spell it !) coil fitted for menapausal problems be a cause of a U T I ?
Hi June, we haven’t seen any research into this, but we have received similar questions from others who are speculating whether it may be linked to symptoms they are experiencing. If you have any other questions, you can always get in touch directly. Melissa
Hi Antonia, that’s an excellent question. I haven’t seen any studies specifically linking this, so I’ve added it to our list of questions to ask an expert. Given the hormonal link to recurrent UTI, it seems plausible. Melissa
What is the role of testosterone treatment
( small daily dose of cream) in relation to UTI for post menopausal & naturethroid women /patients?!!
Hi Cathy, we don’t yet have any information regarding testosterone treatment for UTI. If you have any useful resources we can start looking into, can you send us a direct message? Thanks, Melissa
As always very informative and in a format that is understood,thank you
Can you tell me the differences with compounded estriol cream and the regular estrogen creams like estrace? I’m being treated for e faecalis and citrobacter in urine with antibiotics. Suffered with painful bladder syndrome for 7 years. Also given compounded estriol( I’ve had breast cancer) the estriol is weaker, I’ve been told so may take 3 months to work. My oncologist also told me about a new product Imvexxy which has a lower estrogen content than estrace and premarin. Obviously considering my history I want the lowest estrogen possible but still need it to work. Any thoughts? Thanks
Hi Lesley, that’s a great question and I’ve added it to our list for the experts. We share their answers periodically via our mailing list. If you’d like to join the list, you can do so above, at the bottom of the article. If you have any other questions, feel free to send them to us directly. Melissa
Hi Maria, thanks for your positive feedback! Melissa
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