April 17, 2023 – Vaginal laser “rejuvenation” doesn’t relieve sure signs of menopause or enhance sexual perform 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 info 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 editorial revealed alongside the research in JAMA Community Open.
In Gunter’s view, it is extremely unlikely that the scientific observe of laser remedy for what’s referred to as genitourinary syndrome of menopause will cease within the U.S. with out FDA motion.
Which means “many practitioners right here and all over the world will possible 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 essentially the most sturdy present proof tells us is an ineffective process,” she stated. “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 approach to enhance sexual perform, vaginal lubrication, and moisture, whereas avoiding long-term use of tablets and lotions, Gunter defined.
The thrill surrounding vaginal laser remedy suggests it is primarily a well-researched “spa remedy with no draw back,” she stated. 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 gadgets, and there is limited evidence to indicate they’re secure and efficient.
As an illustration, a 2021 randomized controlled trial of postmenopausal girls 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 remedy, however truly doesn’t.
The research “ought to have been sufficient to pause laser remedy exterior of scientific trials. Sadly, it was not,” Gunter stated.
The brand new research supplies 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 necessary group for research, as they usually expertise worse signs and will have security considerations with hormonal therapies,” Gunter stated.
All 72 girls had been instructed to make use of first-line remedy for genitourinary syndrome of menopause based mostly 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 girls confirmed important enchancment in outcomes associated to those menopause signs, no matter whether or not they acquired actual or sham laser remedy, in accordance with the authors, led by Eduard Mension, MD, with Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Spain.
The crew additionally discovered no important variations between actual and sham laser remedy in key secondary outcomes, with each teams having important enhancements in all key areas.
Kristin Rojas, MD, a breast surgical oncologist and gynecologic surgeon based mostly in Miami, was not stunned by the brand new information, tweeting: “I will say it once more individuals: these cash-based ‘rejuvenation‘ therapies are not any higher than placebo.”
The concept laser remedy would possibly stimulate blood stream and collagen to enhance signs of genitourinary syndrome of menopause was a “legitimate speculation,” Gunter stated. However “some physicians who promote vaginal laser remedy seem to have gone from proof-of-concept research to providing the remedy as secure and efficient.”
