April 17, 2023 – Vaginal laser “rejuvenation” doesn’t relieve sure signs of menopause or enhance sexual operate in breast most cancers survivors, new analysis exhibits, however will or not it’s sufficient to cease some well being care suppliers from selling the false promise of laser remedy and cashing in on it?
In all probability not, “as a result of historical past tells us that details don’t at all times get in the best way of ego and revenue,” wrote Jen Gunter, MD, with Kaiser Permanente Northern California, in an printed alongside the research in JAMA Community Open.
In Gunter’s view, it is extremely unlikely that the medical observe of laser remedy for what’s referred to as genitourinary syndrome of menopause will cease within the U.S. with out FDA motion.
Meaning “many practitioners right here and all over the world will doubtless proceed to make use of the offensive ‘vaginal rejuvenation’ language to coax sufferers into paying 1000’s of {dollars} to deal with GSM for what probably the most sturdy present proof tells us is an ineffective process,” she mentioned. “There is just too a lot cash to be made.”
Many individuals have signs of GSM in menopause, and if they are not handled, these signs can final for many years.
Vaginal laser remedy has emerged as a manner to enhance sexual operate, vaginal lubrication, and moisture, whereas avoiding long-term use of drugs and lotions, Gunter defined.
The excitement surrounding vaginal laser remedy suggests it is basically a well-researched “spa therapy with no draw back,” she mentioned. However the “actuality of laser for GSM and so-called vaginal rejuvenation is much totally different from the promise.”
The FDA has not cleared these laser units, and there is to indicate they’re protected and efficient.
As an example, a 2021 of postmenopausal ladies with vaginal signs discovered that fractional carbon dioxide vaginal laser remedy doesn’t enhance signs or high quality of life, or result in modifications in vaginal histology, vs. sham vaginal laser remedy, the place a physician goes by means of the motions of performing the therapy, however really doesn’t.
The research “ought to have been sufficient to pause laser remedy exterior of medical trials. Sadly, it was not,” Gunter mentioned.
The brand new research gives related findings – this time in breast most cancers survivors with GSM receiving aromatase inhibitors, medication given to sufferers who’ve already gone by means of menopause, a “uniquely vital group for research, as they usually expertise worse signs and should have security considerations with hormonal therapies,” Gunter mentioned.
All 72 ladies had been informed to make use of first-line therapy for genitourinary syndrome of menopause primarily based on nonhormonal moisturizers and vaginal vibrator stimulation; 35 had been randomly assigned to 5 month-to-month classes of fractional carbon dioxide vaginal laser remedy and 37 to sham laser remedy.
On the 6-month follow-up, all ladies confirmed vital enchancment in outcomes associated to those menopause signs, no matter whether or not they obtained actual or sham laser remedy, based on the authors, led by Eduard Mension, MD, with Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Spain.
The staff additionally discovered no vital variations between actual and sham laser remedy in key secondary outcomes, with each teams having vital enhancements in all key areas.
Kristin Rojas, MD, a breast surgical oncologist and gynecologic surgeon primarily based in Miami, was not stunned by the brand new knowledge, : “I am going to say it once more folks: these cash-based ‘rejuvenation‘ therapies aren’t any higher than placebo.”
The concept laser remedy may stimulate blood stream and collagen to enhance signs of genitourinary syndrome of menopause was a “legitimate speculation,” Gunter mentioned. However “some physicians who promote vaginal laser remedy seem to have gone from proof-of-concept research to providing the remedy as protected and efficient.”