Authors: Pablo Naranjo García, Jorge Alberto Elias, Jorge Gaviria Parada, Daniel Zarza Luciañez, Hernan Pinto
Abstract
Dryness is one the symptoms associated with vaginal atrophy, a condition related to low levels of estrogen, which affects up to 57% of postmenopausal women. The study aimed to evaluate novel intravaginal light-emitting diodes for vaginal tissue regeneration and treatment of symptoms associated with vaginal atrophy, as well as the reliability of this procedure for medical centers that do not have the treatment options to treat their patients with intravaginal CO2 or Er:YAG fractional lasers, or for home device treatments. The study included women with vaginal dryness treated with intravaginal light-emitting diodes device to stimulate vaginal tissue regeneration, for six weeks, with two sessions per week and follow-up for a month. Variables assessed: Distance urethra-vagina, tissue thickness, vascularization, Female Sexual Function Index, the Most Bothersome Symptom (MBS) and Vaginal Health Index. Thirty women were included (mean age 46.0±10.6 years). One month after last LED session, differences from baseline were statistically significant in Vaginal Health Index scale (p=0.0025), Female Sexual Function Index (questions of lubrication and pain (p<0.001)), distance urethra-vagina (P = 0.0289) and vascularization (P = 0.0159). Intravaginal light-emitting diodes appear to be a feasible, safe and effective procedure that induces a significant improvement of vaginal atrophy symptoms.
Keywords
Genitourinary syndrome of menopause; vaginal atrophy, vaginal regeneration,low-power light therapy,light-emitting diodes phototherapy
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Management of Vaginal Atrophy with Intravaginal Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs)