About the PhD thesis

The PhD thesis aimed to investigate the association between the urinary and vaginal microbiota and overactive bladder in postmenopausal women. Furthermore, to explore if treatment with bioactive red clover isoflavones could influence the urinary and vaginal microbiota composition and reduce overactive bladder symptoms. This was investigated by conducting a three-month randomized, double-blinded placebo-controlled study in postmenopausal women with and without OAB.

Study 1 focused on the impact of red clover isoflavones on overactive bladder symptoms. We found that most urinary bladder symptoms parameters did not improve after treatment with red clover extract, however, some women experienced relief related to bother of urgency.

In study 2, we compared the urinary and vaginal microbiota between women with and without overactive bladder. We found that they displayed highly similar microbiota compositions, however some divergence in the bladder microbiota was seen when accounting for abundant bacteria.

Furthermore, study 3 showed that treatment with red clover isoflavones did not influence the urinary or vaginal microbiota composition.

Collectively, these papers contribute to a growing body of literature that seeks to investigate the urinary and vaginal microbiota in overactive bladder together with exploring alternative treatment options for reducing overactive bladder symptoms in postmenopausal women.