Prevention of Recurrent UTI Using Vaginal Testosterone Versus Placebo Placebo (PIVoT)

Prevention of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection Using Vaginal Testosterone Versus Placebo

Women over the age of 60 years have an estimated 10 to 15 % risk of recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI). This is believed to be due to hormonally induced changes in the vaginal flora associated with menopause. After menopause, there is a chemical changes in the vagina that may predispose to bacterial infections.

The role of vaginal estrogen creams to restore vaginal atrophy and prevent urinary tract infections has been well characterized. Vaginal testosterone (VT) application use in postmenopausal breast cancer patients on aromatase inhibitors have been shown to improve vaginal pH, vaginal atrophy symptom scores, dyspareunia, and vaginal dryness. Although testosterone has been used to improve sexual function in postmenopausal women, the effects of VT on vaginal flora and recurrent UTIs are unknown.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether topically applied vaginal testosterone cream is more effective than placebo in reducing the incidence of urinary tract infections in postmenopausal women with recurrent urinary tract infections and to ascertain the effects of topical estrogen on the vaginal pH and flora.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Vaginal Atrophy; Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection; Postmenopausal Disorder
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Vaginal Cream with Applicator

Detailed Description

Background:

Women over the age of 60 years have an estimated 10 to 15 % risk of recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI). This is believed to be due to hormonally induced changes in the vaginal flora associated with menopause. After menopause, there is a chemical changes in the vagina that may predispose to bacterial infections.

The role of vaginal estrogen creams to restore vaginal atrophy and prevent urinary tract infections has been well characterized. Vaginal testosterone (VT) application use in postmenopausal breast cancer patients on aromatase inhibitors have been shown to improve vaginal pH, vaginal atrophy symptom scores, dyspareunia, and vaginal dryness. Although testosterone has been used to improve sexual function in postmenopausal women, the effects of VT on vaginal flora and recurrent UTIs are unknown.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether topically applied vaginal testosterone cream is more effective than placebo in reducing the incidence of urinary tract infections in postmenopausal women with recurrent urinary tract infections and to ascertain the effects of topical estrogen on the vaginal pH and flora.

Methods:

This will be a multi-center randomized, double- blind placebo-controlled study. Participating clinic sites include Maimonides Medical Center and Northwell Health. Subjects will be one hundred postmenopausal women presenting to a gynecology, urogynecology or female urology clinic with a history of three or more microbiologically confirmed symptomatic episodes of urinary tract infection during the either the previous year or two or more within six months.

Patients will randomly assigned to one of two regimens: one group will receive VT cream to be used once each night for two weeks followed by twice-weekly applications for eight months, and the other group will receive a placebo cream to be used in the same manner. Demographic data, vaginal exam including vaginal swab to assess vaginal flora, vaginal pH measurement and vaginal atrophy index measurement will be collected at the initial study visit, again at a study visit at 4.5 months and another at 9 months.

Anticipated Results and Conclusion:

It is anticipated that vaginal testosterone cream will reduce the incidence of urinary tract infections in postmenopausal women when compared to placebo. It is expected that vaginal testosterone will improve vaginal atrophy and flora, thus, decreasing the frequency of urinary tract infections. Future aims of the study will focus on immune-dynamics associated with vaginal testosterone administration.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 100
• Phase: Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Alison Polland, MD; Phone Number: (718) 283-7770; Email: apolland@maimonidesmed.org
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Mariela Martinez, MD; Email: mmrivera@maimonidesmed.org

Study Locations

• United States
  • New York
    • Brooklyn, New York, United States, 11219
      • Recruiting
      • Maimonides Medical Center
      • Contact: Alison Polland, MD; Phone Number: 718-283-7770; Email: apolland@maimonidesmed.org
      • Principal Investigator: Alison Polland, MD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 60 years to 90 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• 60-90 yo Female
• Postmenopausal
• Recurrent UTIs (three or more culture confirmed symptomatic episodes of UTI or two or more in the past 6 months).
• English Proficiency
• Unable or unwilling to use topical estrogen.
• Patients with history of or current endometrial or breast cancer and current aromatase inhibitor therapy may also be included in study.
• Patient on oral estrogen therapy may be included.
• Patient with slings, prior vaginal surgery or pessary may be included.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current UTI/ Dipstick and culture positive (> trace leukocytes or nitrites)
• Antibiotic (vaginal or oral) use in the last 4 weeks
• Current sexually transmitted infection
• Chronic Foley catheter use or chronic ureteral stent placement.
• Vaginal probiotic use in the last 4 weeks
• Patient currently using vaginal estrogen.
• Post-void Residual Volume >150 mL or current diagnosis of urinary retention
• Non-evaluated hematuria (> trace on dipstick, microscopic, gross)
• Unable to complete study tasks or comply with follow up.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Triple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Vaginal Testosterone Cream Arm; Women enrolled in this arm will receive vaginal testosterone cream to be applied once each night for two weeks followed by twice-weekly applications for a total duration of nine months.	Drug: Vaginal Cream with Applicator; Vaginal testosterone 300-μg dose will be compounded with 13.5 mg of testosterone propionate in 0.45 mL of polysorbate National Formulary liquid and sufficient emollient cream base to make 45 g total. A calibrated vaginal applicator will be supplied to measure out doses of 1 g each. All study medications will be compounded by a single pharmacy so as to avoid variation in compounding between pharmacies and allow for control of compounding. Randomization will be conducted by the compounding pharmacy to allow for double-blinding of patients and clinicians.; Other Names: Testosterone Cream
Placebo Comparator: Vaginal Placebo Cream Arm; Women enrolled in this arm will receive vaginal placebo cream to be applied once each night for two weeks followed by twice-weekly applications for a total duration of nine months.	Drug: Vaginal Cream with Applicator; Vaginal testosterone 300-μg dose will be compounded with 13.5 mg of testosterone propionate in 0.45 mL of polysorbate National Formulary liquid and sufficient emollient cream base to make 45 g total. A calibrated vaginal applicator will be supplied to measure out doses of 1 g each. All study medications will be compounded by a single pharmacy so as to avoid variation in compounding between pharmacies and allow for control of compounding. Randomization will be conducted by the compounding pharmacy to allow for double-blinding of patients and clinicians.; Other Names: Testosterone Cream

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
To assess whether topical vaginal testosterone cream is more effective than placebo in reducing the incidence of urinary tract infections in postmenopausal women with recurrent urinary tract infections.	Patients will receive months phone calls to assess for symptoms of UTI and urine will be collected in study visits at 1 month to check for presence of UTI.	1 month
To assess whether topical vaginal testosterone cream is more effective than placebo in reducing the incidence of urinary tract infections in postmenopausal women with recurrent urinary tract infections.	Patients will receive months phone calls to assess for symptoms of UTI and urine will be collected in study visits at 4.5 months to check for presence of UTI.	4.5 months
To assess whether topical vaginal testosterone cream is more effective than placebo in reducing the incidence of urinary tract infections in postmenopausal women with recurrent urinary tract infections.	Patients will receive months phone calls to assess for symptoms of UTI and urine will be collected in study visits at 9 months to check for presence of UTI.	9 months
To determine whether topically applied vaginal testosterone cream is more effective than placebo cream in changing vaginal flora and pH in postmenopausal women with recurrent urinary tract infections.	The vaginal pH, vaginal atrophy score, and vaginal swabs for participants will be collected at 1 month to assess whether there is improvement in pH and vaginal atrophy scores as well as normalization of vaginal flora.	1 month
To determine whether topically applied vaginal testosterone cream is more effective than placebo cream in changing vaginal flora and pH in postmenopausal women with recurrent urinary tract infections.	The vaginal pH, vaginal atrophy score, and vaginal swabs for participants will be collected at 4.5 months to assess whether there is improvement in pH and vaginal atrophy scores as well as normalization of vaginal flora.	4.5 months
To determine whether topically applied vaginal testosterone cream is more effective than placebo cream in changing vaginal flora and pH in postmenopausal women with recurrent urinary tract infections.	The vaginal pH, vaginal atrophy score, and vaginal swabs for participants will be collected at 9 months to assess whether there is improvement in pH and vaginal atrophy scores as well as normalization of vaginal flora.	9 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Maimonides Medical Center
• Collaborators: American Urological Association

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 1, 2020
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 19, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 18, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): March 19, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): November 5, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 4, 2025
• Last Verified: November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: postmenopausal women; vaginal flora; urinary tract infections,; vaginal atrophy,
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Urogenital Diseases; Male Urogenital Diseases; Urologic Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Infections; Urinary Tract Infections; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Dosage Forms; Equipment and Supplies; Feminine Hygiene Products; Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies
• Other Study ID Numbers: 702576

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: Yes