Abstract
Purpose
The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of fractional CO2 laser to manage vulvar and vaginal symptoms of Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) in postmenopausal women.
Methods
All postmenopausal women with symptoms of GSM undergoing fractional CO2 laser treatment in our centers were asked to fill out a validated quality of life questionnaire (Global Quality of Life Questionnaire), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for symptoms, a questionnaire on overall discomfort related to pelvic floor symptoms, and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) at several points: before each session (three sessions at monthly intervals) and one 3 months after treatment completion. Statistical analysis compared pre-therapy data and data at 3 months of treatment.
Results
Forty-six women were included with a mean age of 57.3 years (± 11.1 years). A significant improvement was demonstrated in vaginal dryness (p = 6.34 10–6) and for symptoms of stress urinary incontinence (p = 0.043). Among sexually active patients, there was a significant improvement in the degree of symptom discomfort affecting their satisfaction (p = 0.007), dyspareunia (p = 0.001) and sensitivity during sexual intercourse (p = 0.001). Significantly, more women were able to achieve (p = 0.026) and maintain (p = 0.018) lubrication during intercourse.
Conclusion
CO2 laser treatment seems to improve the quality of life and sexual health of patients as well as GSM symptoms at 3 months of treatment; long-term reevaluation is necessary to demonstrate that improvement persists over time.
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Change history
07 January 2021
A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-020-05926-3
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HA contributed to conceptualization and idea and methodology. TSF and CLV helped with literature search and data analysis. TSF and HA contributed to writing—original draft preparation. GC, JLM and EOEC helped with writing—review and editing. CU, GC and HA contributed to supervision.
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T. Sindou-Faurie declares that she has no conflict of interest. C. Louis-Vahdat declares that she has no conflict of interest. E. Oueld Es Cheikh declares that she has no conflict of interest. G. Canlorbe declares that he has no conflict of interest. JL. Mergui declares that he has no conflict of interest. C. Uzan declares that she has no conflict of interest. H. Azaïs declares that he has no conflict of interest. All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
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Sindou-Faurie, T., Louis-Vahdat, C., Oueld Es Cheikh, E. et al. Evaluation of the efficacy of fractional CO2 laser in the treatment of vulvar and vaginal menopausal symptoms. Arch Gynecol Obstet 303, 955–963 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-020-05868-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-020-05868-w