Abstract
BackgroundTo evaluate the efficacy of hormone replacement therapy in relieving oral symptoms in postmenopausal women presenting with genitourinary symptoms along with oral dryness.MethodsA case–control study was conducted after selecting 60 postmenopausal women. Oral dryness status of all the patients was evaluated with the help of questionnaire related to oral dryness. These subjects were divided into case group and control group on the basis of response to questionnaire of oral dryness. Unstimulated saliva samples were obtained and analyzed for estimation of salivary estradiol levels by enzyme linked immune sorbent assay technique. After analyzing the result of salivary estradiol levels, case group was subjected to hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The patients were followed up for their response towards oral dryness as well as salivary estradiol levels after the therapy.ResultsThe mean salivary estradiol level before HRT was significantly more among control group as compared to case group (p value < 0.001). Most of the patients complained of dry mouth (26 out of 30); reduced amount of saliva in the mouth (25 out of 30); dry mouth at night (28 out of 30); dry mouth during the day (25 out of 30) before HRT. These complains were significantly reduced after the therapy. The mean salivary estradiol in the case group levels increased significantly after HRT (p value < 0.001).ConclusionThe salivary estradiol levels were reduced in post menopausal women with the complain of xerostomia as compared to those without the complain of xerostomia. Further these levels can be recovered with the help of hormone replacement therapy.
Highlights
To evaluate the efficacy of hormone replacement therapy in relieving oral symptoms in postmenopausal women presenting with genitourinary symptoms along with oral dryness
Unpaired t test reveals that the mean salivary estrogen level before hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was significantly more among control group compared to case group (p value < 0.001)
This study reveals that there exist symptoms of xerostomia in postmenopausal females but most of the time the women are unaware of this feeling
Summary
To evaluate the efficacy of hormone replacement therapy in relieving oral symptoms in postmenopausal women presenting with genitourinary symptoms along with oral dryness. Menopause resulting in reduced estrogen is associated with various effects on the general health and well being of women. These include vasomotor symptoms, urinary symptoms, mood disturbances, sexual dysfunction and cognitive effects [11,12,13]. At least 40–50% reduction in the salivary flow is required to make the patient symptomatic and prone to develop xerostomia [5, 8,9,10] This oral dryness can affect the quality of life of an individual as it interferes with chewing, swallowing and speech. It can accelerate infection, caries and gum disease [5, 11]
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