Difference in symptom manifestation between postmenopausal and premenopausal women in acute uncomplicated cystitis: A multi-institutional pilot study

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to prospectively compare lower urinary tract symptoms in premenopausal and postmenopausal women with acute uncomplicated cystitis before and after antibiotic therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included adult women with acute uncomplicated cystitis who visited 4 institutions between 2019 and 2020. After registration, we administered oral antibiotics and prospectively documented the changes in lower urinary tract symptoms from the first visit to a follow-up visit at 1 week using the Core Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Score (CLSS) questionnaire. RESULTS: After treatment, pyuria disappeared in 60 of the 66 patients (14 premenopausal and 46 postmenopausal). The CLSS total score (range) changed from 13 (3–29) to 4 (0–18) with a significant improvement in all CLSS items. At baseline, nocturia, urgency, and urgency incontinence were more prominent in postmenopausal women than in premenopausal women. In contrast, baseline urethral pain and quality of life index were more severe in premenopausal women than in postmenopausal women. After treatment, the CLSS total score was still higher in postmenopausal women, as reflected by the relatively higher scores for nocturia and urgency, irrespective of the comparable scores for urethral pain and the quality of life index in the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that if storage symptoms persist, they should be carefully interpreted according to menopausal status.