Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
Kathleen M. Marc, MD, Medical Director
Board Certified by the American Board of OB/GYN
Nobody talks about it but women should know. There is no reason that women must suffer from symptoms of low estrogen, called Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause. Sexual symptoms can include lack of lubrication, discomfort or pain, and sexual dysfunction. Urinary symptoms can include urinary urgency, frequency, burning, and recurrent urinary tract infections.
There are a number of reasons and circumstances that can cause low estrogen including menopause, during the postpartum period after childbirth, during lactation, after a hysterectomy, or due to anti-estrogen treatments used in breast cancer
There are both hormonal and non-hormonal treatments. Estrogen therapy is the most common and can help but not everyone is a candidate for that.
There are a number of new and exciting non-hormonal treatment options that are based on the idea of Regenerative Medicine, and the concept of using the power of your own body to regenerate your own tissue.
One of the best and most effective non-normal treatments is called ThermiVa and is based on the use of a radio frequency device that encourages new collagen production, blood supply, and moisture. It is a non-invasive solution for changes in the labia and vagina that happen with childbirth or after menopause. ThermiVa improves sexual function, increases sensitivity, and improves sexual satisfaction. ThermiVa can also enhance the aesthetic appearance of the vagina and labia. It tightens the labial tissues and can reduce sag, resulting in softer and smoother skin. It improves vaginal dryness, helps with painful intercourse, and helps to reduce urinary incontinence.
Treatments are once a month for three treatments and generally take about 30 minutes. The device is a small, smooth probe about the size of a finger inserted into the vagina with ultrasound gel. It is a pain-free procedure and requires no downtime. The treatment is gentle and relaxing and has been described as feeling like an internal warm massage.
Results vary with some patients having immediate improvement, while most effects become noticeable in two weeks and continue to improve over a three-month period of time as collagen formation occurs. A maintenance treatment once a year is recommended to continue enjoying excellent results.
ThermiVa may be used by itself or in combination with another effective procedure called the O-Shot.
The O-Shot is another non-hormonal treatment that can be performed as an alternative procedure or done in combination with ThermiVa, called Thermi-O.
It again calls on the power of your own body to regenerate tissue. It is an all-natural, painless, non-surgical procedure that can rejuvenate and revitalize vaginal and clitoral function giving markedly improved sensitivity and significantly enhancing sexual function. Many women lose urine when coughing, laughing, sneezing, or exercising. It can be an embarrassing and frustrating problem. Because the O-Shot procedure offers rejuvenating capabilities, there is help without the need for surgery.
The O-Shot is an in-office procedure where the patient’s blood is drawn and placed in a centrifuge which is used to isolate the red blood cells from the clear plasma. The red cells are discarded, and the plasma is treated with a special process to activate the plasma, which contains a high concentration of platelets (PRP- platelet-rich plasma). Then, using a very tiny needle, the PRP is injected back into the clitoris and lower vagina into the area most important for sexual response. When the PRP is injected, the body sees it as an injury and calls forth 7 different growth factors as well as the patient’s own stem cells to start the healing cascade which causes collagen production, the production of small blood vessels, and stimulates nerves. The O-Shot can help with decreased libido, stress urinary incontinence, vaginal dryness and resulting painful intercourse, urge and stress urinary incontinence, lichen sclerosis, and lichen planus. It improves sexual response.
The combination of ThermiVa and the O-Shot seems to have additive benefits in alleviating these symptoms. The addition of vaginal estrogen, for those who are candidates, can also have a combined effect and enhance improvement.
There is no need to suffer from these symptoms. Because people don’t talk freely about these types of symptoms, many women are unaware that help is available. We hope to spread the word that patients can refresh their health and improve their lives with these regenerative non-invasive treatments.
Aesthetic Treatment Centers
As a leader in the industry, ATC always offers the latest technology in skin and body care. By combining their expertise through industry leaders, innovative procedures, and cuttingedge products, you will always receive remarkable results within the serene, inviting atmosphere of the Aesthetic Treatment Centers.
To find out more about their procedures and expertise, please call 239-322-3790 for an appointment, or visit them online at atcnaples.com.
Hours: Monday – Friday 9-5
Saturday: By appointment
Aesthetic Treatment Centers
(239) 322-3790 | atcnaples.com
Office
720 Goodlette-Frank Road, Suite 300
Naples FL 34102
