Laser Therapy Relieves Vaginal Symptoms Up To a Year, Up To 36 Months in Some

Laser therapy of the vaginal tissue is performed with microablative fractional CO₂ laser (CO₂ laser), and is the main modality used although there are a few energy-based devices for managing the symptoms of lower estrogen as women change through perimenopause and menopause.

The treatment uses micropulses of CO₂ laser,

The symptoms improved the most after treatment include: improvement of dryness, dyspareunia, itching/burning, sexual function, dysuria, urinary frequency/urgency, and incontinence.

Original protocols call for treating 30 days apart, many offices treat 6 weeks apart.

In a recent publication in the journal Menopause it was shown that most women will have success with 3 treatments. If a woman still has symptoms at 4 weeks out from last therapy she should have another treatment.

Women completing their series will have stability of their success for a full year after treatment.

Up to 20% of patients can experience improvement in vaginal dryness, pain with intercourse, and stress incontinence for up to 24 months, and for many women their therapy helps them for up to 36 months.

The treatment is safe for women on or off medication, and women with or without breast cancer.