By Anne Marie Tremaine, MD
Childbirth, aging, and hormonal variations can lead to significant changes to the vulvovaginal skin and mucosa that can negatively affect a woman’s quality of life. Pregnancy and childbirth can cause laxity of the pelvic anatomy. In menopause, our estrogen decreases causing atrophy (thinning) of the mucosa. These changes can lead to symptoms such as pain with physical activity or intercourse, itching, burning, dryness and irritation of the vulvar skin, orgasmic dysfunction, stress urinary incontinence and chafing. Unfortunately, despite how common these symptoms are, women are not talking about it and not getting the treatment they need.
Thankfully, there are non-surgical laser treatments that can help improve these symptoms. These treatments have been inappropriately coined “genital rejuvenation”, however, this term does a disservice to the treatment and women. While the laser treatments can cause cosmetic improvement in the vaginal area, the primary benefits of these treatments are significant functional improvement in the medical condition vulvo-vaginal atrophy and both perimenopausal and menopausal women can benefit from these treatments.
There are several non-surgical devices (ablative/non-ablative lasers, radiofrequency) that can be used. At the office I use a fractionated carbon dioxide laser (CO2) called the CO2RE® Intima. This laser delivers heat that stimulates the formation of new collagen, elastin, and vascular supply resulting in thickening of the mucosa and restoring the vaginal mucosa to its previous state.
What can you expect with CO2RE® Intima laser treatment? The treatment is quick and virtually painless with each treatment session lasting about 15 minutes. Typically, 3 sessions are recommended, spaced 4 weeks part. After the 3rd treatment, a yearly maintenance treatment may be necessary.
Not all patients are good candidates for these treatments, sometimes surgical intervention is needed. I offer discrete consults to determine if this treatment might be right for you.
Women no longer need to suffer with the symptoms of vulvo-vaginal laxity and atrophy. Having a pleasurable intimate life is a normal part of a healthy lifestyle and we should feel comfortable to talk with our physicians about these concerns.
Anne Marie Tremaine, MD
Board Certified Dermatolgist
Harvard Cosmetic and Laser Medicine Fellowship
Dr. Tremaine is a board-certified dermatologist with fellowship training at Harvard Medical School in laser and cosmetic surgery. She has contributed as a dermatology expert for online and print magazines including Family Fun, msn.com, menshealth.com, and ccn.com. In addition, she frequently lectures to professional societies on her diverse research.
For more information about skin care visit the Skin Wellness Physicians website at: www.skinwellnessflorida.com