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Radiofrequency in female external genital cosmetics and sexual function: a randomized clinical trial

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

Female sexual behavior goes through cultural changes constantly, and recently, some women have shown the desire the ideal genitalia. In this study, we aimed to evaluate clinical responses to nonablative radiofrequency (RF) in terms of its cosmetic outcome in the female external genitalia and its effect on sexual function.

Methods

A single-masking randomized controlled trial was conducted in 43 women (29 sexually active) who were unsatisfied with the appearance of their external genitalia. The women were divided into an RF group (n = 21, 14 sexually active) and a control group (n = 22, 15 sexually active). Eight sessions of RF were performed once a week. Photographs (taken before the first session and 8 days after the last session) were evaluated by the women and three blinded health professionals by using two 3-point Likert scales (unsatisfied, unchanged, and satisfied; and worst, unchanged, and improved). Sexual function was evaluated using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and analyzed using the Student t test. Women’s satisfaction and health professional evaluation were analyzed using the chi-square test and inter- and intragroup binomial comparisons.

Results

Satisfaction response rates were 76 and 27 % for the RF and control groups, respectively (p = 0.001). All professionals found a clinical improvement association in the treated group with RF in comparison with the control group (p < 0.01). The overall FSFI sexual function score increased by 3.51 points in the RF group vs 0.1 points in the control group (p = 0.003).

Conclusions

RF is an alternative for attaining a cosmetic outcome for the female external genitalia, with positives changes in patients’ satisfaction and FSFI scores.

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Acknowledgments

This study was developed with financial and material support by the academic Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública and financial support by the governmental research foundation Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado da Bahia –FAPESB.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bahiana School of Medicine and Public Health, Av Dom João VI, 275 – Brotas, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

    Patrícia Lordêlo, Mariana Robatto Dantas Leal, Cristina Aires Brasil, Juliana Menezes Santos & Maria Clara Neves Pavie Cardoso Lima

  2. Federal University of São Paulo State, São Paulo, Brazil

    Marair Gracio Ferreira Sartori

Authors
  1. Patrícia Lordêlo
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  2. Mariana Robatto Dantas Leal
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  3. Cristina Aires Brasil
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  4. Juliana Menezes Santos
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  5. Maria Clara Neves Pavie Cardoso Lima
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  6. Marair Gracio Ferreira Sartori
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Patrícia Lordêlo.

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Lordêlo, P., Leal, M.R.D., Brasil, C.A. et al. Radiofrequency in female external genital cosmetics and sexual function: a randomized clinical trial. Int Urogynecol J 27, 1681–1687 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-016-3020-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-016-3020-x

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