Characterization of Vaginal, Urinary and Fecal Microbiomes in Women With Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections

The objectives are to evaluate whether variations in vaginal and/or urinary and/or fecal microbiome predispose postmenopausal women to recurrent cystitis. This will be explored using comparison of microbiome profiles between those with recurrent UTI compared to age-matched women without recurrent UTI.

Patients' inclusion criteria: * Menopausal status * Two or more documented, culture-positive infections in the last six months or ≥3 infections in the last year Patients' exclusion criteria: * Neurogenic bladder condition * Known immunodeficiencies * Usage of antibiotics or probiotics within the previous month * Known renal calculi or anatomic malformations Control subjects- Inclusion criteria: * Menopausal status * Sterile urine cultures, normal urinalysis, and negative sexually-transmitted PCR urine assay Control subjects- Exclusion criteria: \- A prior history of UTIs or other urologic abnormalities.