The Leonardo Dual Diode Laser from Biolitec is an alternative for the treatment of genitourinary syndrome of menopause, according to new study results.
biolitec
Due to increasing life expectancy, women today spend a third of their lives after menopause. The hormonal changes that cause the menopause are often associated with considerable symptoms. One of the most common is genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) or vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA). Symptoms include vaginal burning, vaginal itching, vaginal dryness, dyspareunia and dysuria.
The usually promising treatment with oestrogen preparations is not always applicable. This applies to former cancer patients, for example, but also to women who generally reject hormone treatments. Laser treatment with the Leonardo Dual Diode Laser from biolitec is an energy-based and gentle outpatient alternative. This is shown by new study results from the gynaecology departments of the IRCC San Gerardo dei Tintori of the University of Milan-Bicocca and the ASST Lecco of the Manzoni Hospital in Lecco.
The study is the first on the effectiveness of a pure diode vaginal laser in the treatment of GSM. Outpatient non-ablative diode laser treatment was investigated in 26 sexually active GSM patients over the age of 18 who either could not tolerate local estrogen therapy, did not respond to it or refused it for other reasons. All patients were either menopausal or being treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH).
The starting point of the study was the participants' data on the Vaginal Health Index (VHI), VVA symptoms and sexual function. The VHI records the five measured values of elasticity, fluid volume, pH value, epithelial integrity and moisture. The intensity of VVA symptoms was measured on a visual analog scale (VAS) from 0 (no symptoms) to 100 (worst symptoms). Sexual function was assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI-19) questionnaire.
Laser treatment was performed in three monthly sessions with a Leonardo Dual Diode Laser. One month after the third session, the VHI, the symptom VAS and the FSFI-19 were evaluated again. In addition, the PGI-I questionnaires (Patient Global Impression of Improvement) completed by the participating patients were taken into account. None of the patients reported any undesirable side effects following diode laser treatment.
According to the PGI-I questionnaire, symptoms improved in a total of 73.1% of patients. There were also significant improvements in all areas of the FSFI-19 questionnaire. The mean VHI score also improved from 12.2 to 15.4, while the VAS score fell from 69.2 to 43.5 points, which also indicates a clear improvement in the symptoms recorded. According to the study, the Leonardo Dual Diode Laser provides an effective alternative treatment for urogenital menopausal syndrome and vulvovaginal atrophy to restore vaginal function.
