Menopause can be a pain, literally. When estrogen levels plummet, vagina walls can become dry, thin, less elastic, and inflamed. For many women, this leads to uncomfortable symptoms of vaginal atrophy, including vaginal burning, irritation, discharge, and even bleeding, along with pain during sex.
But help is on the way. At Urological Associates in Charlottesville, Virginia, our doctors can help alleviate uncomfortable vaginal atrophy symptoms with an innovative laser treatment called MonaLisa Touch®.
There are 64 million postmenopausal women in the United States, and as many as 32 million may suffer from vaginal atrophy. The symptoms not only are irritating and painful, but they can rob your self-confidence and feelings of well-being. If left untreated, the condition persists and only becomes worse.
For decades, menopausal women suffering from vaginal atrophy have turned to hormone replacement therapy — pills, creams, and patches that restock their estrogen supply. But concerns about the possible side effects of hormone replacement therapy have spooked many women who opt to suffer uncomfortable symptoms rather than risk taking hormones.
Enter laser technology that promises to alleviate vaginal dryness, itching, and uncomfortable intercourse caused by menopause and some cancers and cancer treatments.
What is MonaLisa Touch®️?
MonaLisa Touch® is a treatment that uses fractional CO2 laser energy to relieve the symptoms of vaginal atrophy and create a healthier vagina. A fractional laser divides a single laser beam into many microbeams of light. Fractional laser beams can treat specific tissue areas while leaving surrounding tissues unscathed.
The laser, which is gently inserted into your vagina, delivers energy that penetrates the vaginal wall to reach subsurface structures. The laser heat triggers the production of:
- Blood vessels, increasing blood flow to the vagina
- Collagen, rebuilding tissue strength
- Elastin, making the area more elastic
- Hyaluronic acid, which increases hydration
Most patients notice improvement immediately after the first treatment, although the complete procedure entails three treatments over 18 weeks. After that, only annual maintenance sessions are required.
In-office treatments take about 5 minutes. They’re generally painless (most patients feel a little vibration), although your doctor can apply an anesthetic cream to reduce any chance of discomfort.
After treatment, you can resume normal activities and even go back to work. Within days, you can resume regular sexual activity.
Side effects of MonaLisa Touch treatments are minor and can include some itching, burning, redness, or swelling directly after the procedure. These problems resolve in a few days.
You don’t have to suffer from menopause-related vaginal symptoms and painful intercourse. Our doctors at Urological Associates can help you overcome these problems with MonaLisa Touch. Call us, or schedule an appointment online today.