22. EFFICACY OF VAGINAL ERBIUM LASER IN THE TREATMENT OF GENITOURINARY SYNDROME OF MENOPAUSE
Main Article Content
Abstract
Introdution: Genitourinary syndrome in menopause pose a great threat to quality of life due to change of genital, sexual, urological symptoms because of estrogen deficiency. The evidence for stricture rates following robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) is limited. We evaluated the efficacy of vaginal erbium laser in the treatment of genitourinary syndrome of menopause at Binh Dan hospital.
Methods: All patients were treated with 2,940 nm Er:YAG laser (FotonaSmooth®) from January 2023 through March 2024 at Binh Dan hospital. Symptoms will be evaluated before and after therapy for 6 months using the VAS, VHIS and ICIQ-UI SF scales.
Results: Follow-up period was 6 months. We conducted a study with 72 participants. The average age of the sample size was 60.4 with age at menopause around 48, around 56% of the participants suffered from Stress Urinary Incontinence. Vaginal erbium laser treatment induced a significant (p < 0.01) decrease in VAS for both vaginal dryness and dyspareunia, as well an increase in VHIS (p < 0.01) and improved mild-moderate stress urinary incontinence in 40 postmenopausal women up to the 6th month after the last laser treatment. About 1% of patients had adverse events.
Conclusion: These results suggest that vaginal erbium laser may be effective and safe for the treatment of genitourinary syndrome of menopause.
Article Details
Keywords
Genitourinary syndrome of menopause, vaginal erbium laser.
References
menopause: new terminology for vulvovaginal172
atrophy from the International Society for the
Study of Women’s Sexual Health and The North
American Menopause Society, Climacteric;17
(5): 557-63, 2014.
[2] Robinson D, Cardozo L, The pathophysiology
and management of postmenopausal urogenital
oestrogen deficiency. J Br Menopause Soc;
7:67–73, 2001.
[3] De Villiers TJ, A Pines, N Panay et al.,
Updated 2013 International Menopause Society
recommendations on menopausal hormone
therapy and preventive strategies for midlife
health. International Menopause Society;
16:316–33, 2013.
[4] 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. Epub 2014 Jun
5. PMID: 24605832.
[5] Gambacciani M, Levancini M, Cervigni M,
V”aginal erbium laser: the second-generation
thermotherapy for the genitourinary syndrome
of menopause. Climacteric; 2015,18(5):757-63.
doi: 10.3109/13697137.2015.1045485. PMID:
26029987; PMCID: PMC4673600.
[6] Cano A, Estévez J, Usandizaga R et al., The
therapeutic effect of a new ultralow concentration
estriol gel formulation (0.005% estriol vaginal
gel) on symptoms and signs of postmenopausal
vaginal atrophy: results from a pivotal phase
III study. Menopause; 2012, 19(10):1130-9.
doi: 10.1097/gme.0b013e3182518e9a. PMID:
22914208.
[7] Zdenko V, Novel Minimally Invasive VSP Er:
YAG Laser Treatments in Gynecology. Journal
of the Laser and Health Academy; No.1; pp.46-
58, 2012.
[8] Gaspar A, Comparison of new minimally
invasive Er: YAG laser treatment and hormonal
replacement therapy in the treatment of vaginal
atrophy. Climacteric; 17(Suppl 1): 48–108, P
124, 2014.
[9] Fistonic I, Erbium laser treatment for early stages
of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and vaginal
relaxation significantly improves pelvicfloor
function. 15th congress of Human Reproduction,
Venice, 2013.