Volume 27, Issue 5 pp. 448-455
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Fractional CO₂ vaginal laser for the genitourinary syndrome of menopause in breast cancer survivors

Gian Piero Siliquini MD

Gian Piero Siliquini MD

SedesSapientiae Institute, Turin, Italy

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Valentina Elisabetta Bounous MD, PhD

Corresponding Author

Valentina Elisabetta Bounous MD, PhD

Division of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Umberto I Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

Department of Public Health, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

Correspondence

Valentina Elisabetta Bounous, Division of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Umberto I Hospital, Turin, University of Turin.

Email: [email protected]

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Lorenzo Novara MD

Lorenzo Novara MD

Division of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Umberto I Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

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Margherita Giorgi MD

Margherita Giorgi MD

Division of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Umberto I Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

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Fabrizio Bert MD

Fabrizio Bert MD

Department of Public Health, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

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Nicoletta Biglia MD, PhD

Nicoletta Biglia MD, PhD

Division of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Umberto I Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

Department of Public Health, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

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First published: 16 March 2021
Citations: 17

Funding information

No specific funding was obtained for this study.

Abstract

Adjuvant chemotherapy and endocrine therapy can induce early iatrogenic menopause or worsen pre-existing menopausal symptoms in breast cancer survivors (BCS). The second most frequent menopausal symptom after hot flushes is the genitourinary syndrome (GSM). Since hormone replacement therapy is contraindicated in BCS, vaginal laser might represent a new nonhormonal option for GSM. This study aims at evaluating the effectiveness of the fractional CO₂ vaginal laser for GSM in BCS compared with healthy women. This is a retrospective study on 135 postmenopausal women (45 BCS and 90 healthy women) who underwent fractional CO2 laser for GSM. Objective (VHI and VVHI) and subjective outcomes (VAS for dyspareunia and vaginal dryness and a pain questionnaire) were evaluated at baseline visit and at every follow-up visit. Subjective and objective parameters improved significantly in both groups after laser therapy. The improvement was progressive and long-lasting up to 12 months after the end of the treatment. No severe adverse events were observed during the treatment. Fractional CO₂ vaginal laser induces a significant and long-lasting improvement on GSM symptoms in BCS. However, this improvement is slower than in healthy women undergoing the same treatment. Laser therapy turns out to be safe and well-tolerated.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Nicoletta Biglia received occasional grants from Shionogi and Gedeon Richter (member of advisory boards and/or consultant). The other authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

Due to the sensitive nature of the questions asked in this study, patients were as- sured raw data would remain confidential. Nevertheless, data will be available under request if a signed confidentiality agreement is pro-vided.

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