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The Use of Carbon Dioxide (Co2) Lasers in the Treatment of Vulvovaginal Atrophy Symptoms in Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Women

Year 2024, , 30 - 39, 28.03.2024
https://doi.org/10.58770/joinihp.1435655

Abstract

This study explores the efficacy of pixelated carbon dioxide (CO2) laser treatment in mitigating vulvovaginal atrophy symptoms among perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. This study examines the effectiveness of CO2 laser treatment in reducing vaginal discomfort for women experiencing menopause. With a cohort of 127 participants (mean age 47 ± 5 years), the researchers administered three sessions of vaginal CO2 laser treatment over three months. The primary evaluation metric was patient-reported satisfaction levels, aiming to assess the treatment's impact on alleviating symptoms associated with vulvovaginal atrophy, such as dryness, burning, and discomfort during intercourse. The findings revealed that 98% of the patients experienced significant symptom improvement three months post-treatment. Notably, 89% reported a resolution of sexual dysfunction due to vaginal dryness, and 96% indicated an end to discomfort and burning sensations. The satisfaction of the patients is extremely high, with 98% of the participants being satisfied with the results, and this satisfaction has persisted even after some time following the treatment. Furthermore, 95% of the women encountered no discomfort during the procedure, and any post-treatment complaints were mild and temporary, with a watery discharge being the most common. The study concludes that pixel CO2 laser treatment is a practical, painless, and efficient approach for addressing vulvovaginal atrophy symptoms, yielding high patient satisfaction rates. The study finds that using pixel CO2 laser treatment is a practical and painless way to help with symptoms of vaginal discomfort, and most patients are satisfied with the results.

Ethical Statement

2024-01.130 Decision Number

References

  • [1] S. Salvatore, R.E. Nappi, N. Zerbinati, et al., "A 12-week treatment with fractional CO2 laser for vulvovaginal atrophy: a pilot study," Climacteric, vol. 17, no. 4, pp. 363-369, Aug. 2014. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.3109/13697137.2014.899347
  • [2] S. Athanasiou, E. Pitsouni, S. Antonopoulou, D. Zacharakis, S. Salvatore, M.E. Falagas, T. Grigoriadis, "The effect of microablative fractional CO2 laser on vaginal flora of postmenopausal women," Climacteric, vol. 19, no. 5, pp. 512-518, Sep. 2016. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/13697137.2016.1212006
  • [3] N. Bhatta, K. M. Isaacson, K. M. Bhatta, R. R. Anderson, I. Schiff, "Comparative study of different laser systems," Fertility and sterility, vol. 61, no. 4, pp. 581-591, Apr. 1994. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0015-0282(16)56629-1
  • [4] C. de Riese, "Laser treatment in gynecology," in Lasers in Surgery: Advanced Characterization, Therapeutics, and Systems XIV, , vol. 5312, pp. 252-257, June 2004. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1117/12.531631
  • [5] R. Angioli, S. Stefano, M. Filippini, et al., "Effectiveness of CO2 laser on urogenital syndrome in women with a previous gynecological neoplasia: A multicentric study," International Journal of Gynecologic Cancer, Mar. 2020. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1136/ijgc-2019-001028
  • [6] A. Güneş, R.M. Alinsod, "A mini-review of aesthetic gynecology and leading gynecology associations’ approaches to this issue," Turkish Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 105, Jun. 2018. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.4274/tjod.33407
  • [7] C. Phillips, T. Hillard, S. Salvatore, P. Toozs-Hobson, L. Cardozo, "Lasers in gynaecology," European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, vol. 251, pp. 146-155, Aug. 2020. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2020.03.034
  • [8] A.C. Sarmento, A.P. Costa, P. Vieira-Baptista, P.C. Giraldo, Jr J. Eleutério, A.K. Gonçalves, "Genitourinary syndrome of menopause: epidemiology, physiopathology, clinical manifestation and diagnostic," Frontiers in Reproductive Health, vol. 3, pp. 779398, Nov. 2021. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.3389/frph.2021.779398
  • [9] J.M. Gold, I. Shrimanker, "Physiology, Vaginal," in StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing, Treasure Island (FL), 2023. [Online]. Available: https://europepmc.org/article/NBK/nbk545147
  • [10] N. Zerbinati, M. Serati, M. Origoni, et al., "Microscopic and ultrastructural modifications of postmenopausal atrophic vaginal mucosa after fractional carbon dioxide laser treatment," Lasers in medical science, vol. 30, pp. 429-436, Jan. 2015. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-014-1677-2
  • [11] E.R. Sokol, M.M. Karram, "An assessment of the safety and efficacy of a fractional CO2 laser system for the treatment of vulvovaginal atrophy," Menopause, vol. 23, no. 10, pp. 1102-1107, Oct. 2016. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1097/GME.0000000000000700
  • [12] K. Angelou, T. Grigoriadis, M. Diakosavvas, D. Zacharakis, S. Athanasiou, "The genitourinary syndrome of menopause: an overview of the recent data," Cureus, vol. 12, no. 4, Apr. 2020. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.7586
  • [13] C. Arroyo, "Fractional CO2 laser treatment for vulvovaginal atrophy symptoms and vaginal rejuvenation in perimenopausal women," International Journal of Women's Health, vol. 9, pp. 591-595, Aug. 2017. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.2147/IJWH.S136857
  • [14] O. D'Oria, A. Giannini, G. Buzzaccarini, et al., "Fractional Co2 laser for vulvo-vaginal atrophy in gynecologic cancer patients: A valid therapeutic choice? A systematic review," European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Aug. 2022. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2022.08.012
  • [15] A. Pearson, A. Booker, M. Tio, G. Marx, "Vaginal CO 2 laser for the treatment of vulvovaginal atrophy in women with breast cancer: LAAVA pilot study," Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, Nov. 2019. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-019-05384-9
  • [16] K. Adabi, F. Golshahi, S. Niroomansh, Z. Razzaghi, M. Ghaemi, "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, pp. 65, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.15171/jlms.2020.11
  • [17] V. Di Donato, O. D’Oria, M. Scudo, et al., "Safety evaluation of fractional CO2 laser treatment in post-menopausal women with vaginal atrophy: A prospective observational study," Maturitas, vol. 135, pp. 34-39, May 2020. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2020.02.009
  • [18] S.E. Eder, "Early effect of fractional CO2 laser treatment in Post-menopausal women with vaginal atrophy," Laser therapy, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 41-47, 2018. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.5978/islsm.18-OR-04
  • [19] A. Lami, S. Alvisi, M. Baldassarre, et al., "Safety and efficacy of non-ablative CO2 laser treatment of vulvo-vaginal atrophy in women with history of breast cancer," Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Jan. 2024. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-023-07323-y

Perimenopozal ve Postmenopozal Kadınlarda Vulvovajinal Atrofi Semptomlarının Tedavisinde Karbon Dioksit (Co2) Lazer Kullanımı

Year 2024, , 30 - 39, 28.03.2024
https://doi.org/10.58770/joinihp.1435655

Abstract

Bu çalışma, perimenopozal ve postmenopozal kadınlardaki vulvovajinal atrofi semptomlarının hafifletilmesinde pikselize karbon dioksit (CO2) lazer tedavisinin etkinliğini araştırmaktadır. 127 katılımcı (ortalama yaş 47 ± 5 yıl) ile yürütülen araştırmada, üç ay boyunca üç seans halinde vajinal CO2 lazer tedavisi uygulanmıştır. Ana değerlendirme ölçütü, tedavinin vulvovajinal atrofiye bağlı semptomları, örneğin kuruluk, yanma ve cinsel ilişki sırasında rahatsızlık gibi belirtileri hafifletme etkisini değerlendirmek amacıyla hastaların bildirdiği memnuniyet seviyeleriydi. Bulgular, tedaviden üç ay sonra hastaların %98'inin önemli semptom iyileşmesi yaşadığını göstermiştir. Özellikle, %89'u vajinal kuruluğa bağlı cinsel işlev bozukluğunun çözüldüğünü, %96'sı ilişki sırasındaki rahatsızlık ve yanma hissinin sona erdiğini belirtmiştir. Hastaların memnuniyeti son derece yüksek olup, katılımcıların %98'i sonuçlardan memnun kalmış ve bu memnuniyet tedaviden bir süre sonra bile devam etmiştir. Ayrıca, kadınların %95'i işlem sırasında herhangi bir rahatsızlık hissetmemiş ve tedavi sonrası şikayetler hafif ve geçici olmuş, en yaygın şikayet prosedür sonrası gözlenen sulu akıntı olmuştur. Çalışma, piksel CO2 lazer tedavisinin, vulvovajinal atrofi semptomlarını ele almak için etkili, ağrısız ve verimli bir yaklaşım olduğu sonucuna varmış ve yüksek hasta memnuniyet oranları elde edilmiştir.

References

  • [1] S. Salvatore, R.E. Nappi, N. Zerbinati, et al., "A 12-week treatment with fractional CO2 laser for vulvovaginal atrophy: a pilot study," Climacteric, vol. 17, no. 4, pp. 363-369, Aug. 2014. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.3109/13697137.2014.899347
  • [2] S. Athanasiou, E. Pitsouni, S. Antonopoulou, D. Zacharakis, S. Salvatore, M.E. Falagas, T. Grigoriadis, "The effect of microablative fractional CO2 laser on vaginal flora of postmenopausal women," Climacteric, vol. 19, no. 5, pp. 512-518, Sep. 2016. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/13697137.2016.1212006
  • [3] N. Bhatta, K. M. Isaacson, K. M. Bhatta, R. R. Anderson, I. Schiff, "Comparative study of different laser systems," Fertility and sterility, vol. 61, no. 4, pp. 581-591, Apr. 1994. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0015-0282(16)56629-1
  • [4] C. de Riese, "Laser treatment in gynecology," in Lasers in Surgery: Advanced Characterization, Therapeutics, and Systems XIV, , vol. 5312, pp. 252-257, June 2004. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1117/12.531631
  • [5] R. Angioli, S. Stefano, M. Filippini, et al., "Effectiveness of CO2 laser on urogenital syndrome in women with a previous gynecological neoplasia: A multicentric study," International Journal of Gynecologic Cancer, Mar. 2020. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1136/ijgc-2019-001028
  • [6] A. Güneş, R.M. Alinsod, "A mini-review of aesthetic gynecology and leading gynecology associations’ approaches to this issue," Turkish Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 105, Jun. 2018. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.4274/tjod.33407
  • [7] C. Phillips, T. Hillard, S. Salvatore, P. Toozs-Hobson, L. Cardozo, "Lasers in gynaecology," European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, vol. 251, pp. 146-155, Aug. 2020. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2020.03.034
  • [8] A.C. Sarmento, A.P. Costa, P. Vieira-Baptista, P.C. Giraldo, Jr J. Eleutério, A.K. Gonçalves, "Genitourinary syndrome of menopause: epidemiology, physiopathology, clinical manifestation and diagnostic," Frontiers in Reproductive Health, vol. 3, pp. 779398, Nov. 2021. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.3389/frph.2021.779398
  • [9] J.M. Gold, I. Shrimanker, "Physiology, Vaginal," in StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing, Treasure Island (FL), 2023. [Online]. Available: https://europepmc.org/article/NBK/nbk545147
  • [10] N. Zerbinati, M. Serati, M. Origoni, et al., "Microscopic and ultrastructural modifications of postmenopausal atrophic vaginal mucosa after fractional carbon dioxide laser treatment," Lasers in medical science, vol. 30, pp. 429-436, Jan. 2015. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-014-1677-2
  • [11] E.R. Sokol, M.M. Karram, "An assessment of the safety and efficacy of a fractional CO2 laser system for the treatment of vulvovaginal atrophy," Menopause, vol. 23, no. 10, pp. 1102-1107, Oct. 2016. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1097/GME.0000000000000700
  • [12] K. Angelou, T. Grigoriadis, M. Diakosavvas, D. Zacharakis, S. Athanasiou, "The genitourinary syndrome of menopause: an overview of the recent data," Cureus, vol. 12, no. 4, Apr. 2020. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.7586
  • [13] C. Arroyo, "Fractional CO2 laser treatment for vulvovaginal atrophy symptoms and vaginal rejuvenation in perimenopausal women," International Journal of Women's Health, vol. 9, pp. 591-595, Aug. 2017. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.2147/IJWH.S136857
  • [14] O. D'Oria, A. Giannini, G. Buzzaccarini, et al., "Fractional Co2 laser for vulvo-vaginal atrophy in gynecologic cancer patients: A valid therapeutic choice? A systematic review," European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Aug. 2022. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2022.08.012
  • [15] A. Pearson, A. Booker, M. Tio, G. Marx, "Vaginal CO 2 laser for the treatment of vulvovaginal atrophy in women with breast cancer: LAAVA pilot study," Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, Nov. 2019. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-019-05384-9
  • [16] K. Adabi, F. Golshahi, S. Niroomansh, Z. Razzaghi, M. Ghaemi, "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, pp. 65, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.15171/jlms.2020.11
  • [17] V. Di Donato, O. D’Oria, M. Scudo, et al., "Safety evaluation of fractional CO2 laser treatment in post-menopausal women with vaginal atrophy: A prospective observational study," Maturitas, vol. 135, pp. 34-39, May 2020. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2020.02.009
  • [18] S.E. Eder, "Early effect of fractional CO2 laser treatment in Post-menopausal women with vaginal atrophy," Laser therapy, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 41-47, 2018. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.5978/islsm.18-OR-04
  • [19] A. Lami, S. Alvisi, M. Baldassarre, et al., "Safety and efficacy of non-ablative CO2 laser treatment of vulvo-vaginal atrophy in women with history of breast cancer," Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Jan. 2024. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-023-07323-y
There are 19 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Surgical Diseases Nursing​​
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Ayse Konac 0000-0002-9119-3332

Publication Date March 28, 2024
Submission Date February 13, 2024
Acceptance Date March 21, 2024
Published in Issue Year 2024

Cite

IEEE A. Konac, “The Use of Carbon Dioxide (Co2) Lasers in the Treatment of Vulvovaginal Atrophy Symptoms in Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Women”, Journal of Innovative Healthcare Practices, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 30–39, 2024, doi: 10.58770/joinihp.1435655.