Effect of the Fractional CO2 Laser on the Quality of Life, General Health, and Genitourinary Symptoms in Postmenopausal Women With Vaginal Atrophy: A Prospective Cohort
Journal of Lasers in Medical Sciences,
Vol. 11 No. 1 (2020),
18 January 2020
,
Page 56-69
Abstract
Introduction: After menopause women experience vaginal atrophy related to hormonal changes and estrogen deficiency. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the effect of the fractional CO2 laser on the quality of life, vaginal atrophy symptoms, and urine incontinency in menopause women.
Methods: This prospective study was conducted among 140 women from 2017 to 2018 in Yas hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. They encountered the fractional microablative CO2 laser system three times at four-week intervals. The short form of the Health Questionnaire (SF-12) and the Female Sexual Functional Index (FSFI) questionnaire were utilized to assess the participants’ quality of life. Also, the standard measuring tools including the vaginal health index (VHI) and International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ) Form were used to evaluate the vaginal atrophy symptoms.
Results: The quality of life improved significantly in somatic, social function, and mental health. In the sexual context, arousal and satisfaction status improved significantly. Also, the frequency of urinary incontinence, enuresis, urgency, and the leak improved significantly (P < 0.05). Among the scale variables for urinary function, it was seen that the urgency impact had no improvement. All vaginal indices improved (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The fractional CO2 laser can be effective in treating vaginal atrophy and urinary symptoms. Besides, it improved the quality of life and the sexual function of
- vulvovaginal atrophy
- Quality of life
- laser therapy
- Postmenopause
How to Cite
References
Leiblum SR, Hayes RD, Wanser RA, Nelson JS. Vaginal Dryness: A Comparison of Prevalence and Interventions in 11 Countries. J Sex Med. 2009;6(9):2425-33. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01369.x.
Nappi RE, Kokot-Kierepa M. Women's voices in the menopause: Results from an international survey on vaginal atrophy. Maturitas. 2010;67(3):233-8. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2010.08.001.
Carranza-Lira S, Fragoso-Diaz N, MacGregor-Gooch AL, Garduno-Hernandez MP, Rios-Calderon K, Aparicio H. Vaginal dryness assessment in postmenopausal women using pH test strip. Maturitas. 2003;45:55-8.
Doren M. Urogenital aging- Creation of improved awareness. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1998;178(5):S254-S256. doi:10.1016/S0002-9378(98)70557-5
Samsioe G. Urogenital aging - a hidden problem. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1998;178(5):S245-S249. doi:10.1016/S0002-9378(98)70555-1
Edwards D, Panay N. Treating vulvovaginal atrophy/genitourinary syndrome of menopause: how important is vaginal lubricant and moisturizer composition? Climacteric. 2016 Apr;19(2):151-61. doi: 10.3109/13697137.2015.1124259.
Hunter MM, Nakagawa S, Van Den Eeden SK, Kuppermann M, Huang AJ. Predictors of impact of vaginal symptoms in postmenopausal women. Menopause. 2016;23(1):40-6. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000000482
Shyu YK, Pan CH, Liu WM, Hsueh JY, Hsu CS, Tsai PS. Health-Related Quality of Life and Healthcare Resource Utilization in Taiwanese Women With Menopausal Symptoms: A Nation-Wide Survey. J Nurs Res. 2012;20(3):208-18. doi: 10.1097/jnr.0b013e318265619b
Labrie F1, Archer DF, Koltun W, Vachon A, Young D, Frenette L, et al. Efficacy of intravaginal dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on moderate to severe dyspareunia and vaginal dryness, symptoms of vulvovaginal atrophy, and of the genitourinary syndrome of menopause. Menopause. 2016;23(3):243-56. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000000571.
Santoro N, Epperson CN, Mathews SB. Menopausal Symptoms and Their Management. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2015 Sep;44(3):497-515. doi: 10.1016/j.ecl.2015.05.001.
Labrie F, Archer DF, Koltun W, Vachon A, Young D, Frenette L, et al. Efficacy of intravaginal dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on dyspareunia and on the FSFI questionnaire in vulvovaginal atrophy due to menopause. Menopause. 2018 Nov;25(11):1339-1353. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000001238
Perino A, Calligaro A, Forlani F, Tiberio C, Cucinella G, Svelato A, et al. Vulvo-vaginal atrophy: A new treatment modality using thermo-ablative fractional CO2 laser. Maturitas. 2015 Mar;80(3):296-301. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2014.12.006.
Salvatore S, Nappi RE, Zerbinati N, et al. A 12-week treatment with fractional CO2 laser for vulvovaginal atrophy: a pilot study. Climacteric. 2014 ;17(4):363-9. doi: 10.3109/13697137.2014.899347.
Kamilos MF, Borrelli CL. New therapeutic option in genitourinary syndrome of menopause: pilot study using microablative fractional radiofrequency. Einstein (Sao Paulo). 2017 Oct-Dec;15(4):445-451. doi: 10.1590/S1679-45082017AO4051.
Enemchukwu EA. CO2 Laser Treatment is Effective for Symptoms of Vaginal Atrophy. J Urol. 2017 Dec;198(6):1228-1229. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2017.09.004.
Pinheiro NM, Crema VO, Milian BM, Carvalho FA, Mendonca AC. Comparison of the effects of carboxytherapy and radiofrequency on skin rejuvenation. J Cosmet Laser Ther 2015;17:156-61. doi:10.3109/14764172.2014.1003238
Arroyo C. Fractional CO2 laser treatment for vulvovaginal atrophy symptoms and vaginal rejuvenation in perimenopausal women. International Journal of Womens Health 2017;9:591-5.
Salvatore S, Athanasiou S. Candiani M. The use of pulsed CO2 lasers for the treatment of vulvovaginal atrophy. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 2015 Dec;27(6):504-8. doi: 10.1097/GCO.0000000000000230.
Samuels JB, Garcia MA. Treatment to External Labia and Vaginal Canal With CO2 Laser for Symptoms of Vulvovaginal Atrophy in Postmenopausal Women. Aesthet Surg J. 2019 Jan 1;39(1):83-93. doi: 10.1093/asj/sjy087.
Eder SE. Early Effect of Fractional Co2 Laser Treatment in Post-Menopausal Women with Vaginal Atrophy. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine 2018;50:S40-S. Laser Ther. 2018 ;27(1):41-47. doi: 10.5978/islsm.18-OR-04.
Siliquini GP, Tuninetti V, Bounous VE, Bert F, Biglia N. Fractional CO2 laser therapy: a new challenge for vulvovaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women. Climacteric 2017;20:379-84.
Gambacciani M, Palacios S. Laser therapy for the restoration of vaginal function. Maturitas. 2017;99:10-15. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2017.01.012.
Gaspar A, Brandi H, Gomez V, Luque D. Efficacy of Erbium: YAG Laser Treatment Compared to Topical Estriol Treatment for Symptoms of Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause. Lasers Surg Med. 2017 Feb;49(2):160-168. doi: 10.1002/lsm.22569.
Sokol ER, Karram MM. An assessment of the safety and efficacy of a fractional CO2 laser system for the treatment of vulvovaginal atrophy. Menopause. 2016 Oct;23(10):1102-7. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000000700.
Sokol ER, Karram MM. Use of a novel fractional CO2 laser for the treatment of genitourinary syndrome of menopause: 1-year outcomes. Menopause. 2017 Jul;24(7):810-814. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000000839.
- Abstract Viewed: 524 times
- PDF Downloaded: 369 times