Both CO2 and Er:YAG lasers have been evaluated for their ability to rejuvenate vaginal tissue. 64 The Er:YAG laser emits light at a wavelength of 2.94 µm and is 16 times more highly absorbed by water than the CO2 laser light. 65-67 Because of this higher water absorption rate, the Er:YAG causes much more superficial penetration and ablation of tissue. Most importantly, the Er:YAG laser does not increase the zone of thermal damage with each subsequent laser impact, as the CO2 laser does. Currently, the Er:YAG is the most commonly used laser treatment for VVA.
Towards the Emergency room:YAG laserlight clients are often treated once a month to own 3 weeks. Ladies are trained so you can abstain from gender for around 2 weeks immediately after medication. Cosmetic laser treatments address the fresh vagina only, perhaps not the perineum. Had written studies ways new treatments have to be regular a year. 68,69
The fresh new Er:YAG laser have exhibited encouraging results for cancer of the breast survivors. In one investigation 43 postmenopausal breast cancer survivors had been treated with step 3 laser applications all a https://datingreviewer.net/escort/murfreesboro/ month. Their attacks was in fact assessed just before procedures and immediately after step one, 3, six, 12, and 1 . 5 years, having fun with 2 steps: personal artwork analogue level (VAS) and you may goal Vaginal Fitness Directory Rating (VHIS). For everybody of your own ladies in the study, genital dryness, VAS, dyspareunia, and VHIS scores somewhat increased pursuing the 3rd treatment. The fresh new scores rejected during the several and you can 18 months but were still rather enhanced compared to baseline. The analysis means “genital erbium laser is useful and you can not harmful to the treatment of genitourinary problem off menopause in breast cancer survivors.” 68
Using laser devices for VVA truly is a formative science, and we do not have definitive answers about the optimal number and frequency of treatments. Athanasiou and Pitsouni aimed to address this question in a recently published study. 69 In their study, 55 women received 3 sessions of CO2 laser therapy, 53 had an additional fourth session, and 22 had an additional fifth session. Results of their study are summarized in Figure 1.
Shape step 1. Improvement in sex-associated variables certainly one of lady treated with carbon dioxide laserlight treatment to possess vulvovaginal atrophy shortly after step three, 4, and you can 5 service.
The latest authors concluded that laser beam procedures can get sign up for over regression off dyspareunia and you may dryness in the a serving-reaction styles. An additional last or fifth course may then improve GSM symptom-100 % free price.
Radiofrequency gizmos to possess vulvovaginal restoration
Radiofrequency gadgets are the most recent options for treatments for VVA. The newest radiofrequency providers is monopolar, bipolar, and you can multipolar equipment. I’ve fewer training in order to validate their safeguards and you will capabilities in contrast to laser light treatments.
Radiofrequency treatments are repeated weekly to monthly, usually for a total of 3 treatments. While the CO2 and Er:YAG lasers treat only the vagina, the radiofrequency devices rejuvenate the perineum as well. Women can have intercourse the same day. Like the laser treatments, the effects of radiofrequency treatments diminish over time and likely need to be repeated annually. 70
Report about nonsurgical cure for vulvovaginal atrophy
Both the laser and radiofrequency treatments offer viable options for nonhormonal treatment of VVA. The CO2 and Er:YAG lasers have been used clinically for a couple of decades, while the radiofrequency devices offer promising new treatment options. The Er:YAG laser has been shown to benefit both VVA and mild to moderate stress urinary incontinence (SUI). 71 Less is known about the effectiveness of the radiofrequency devices for treating SUI, but they have the added benefit of treating the perineum as well as vaginal tissue. Insurance companies do not currently cover either laser or radiofrequency treatments for VVA or SUI, and the out-of-pocket expenses are customarily $1,000 per treatment.