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The goal of this observational study is to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and impact on quality of life and sexuality of non-ablative dual-wavelength diode laser treatments in managing Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) in sexually active post-menopausal women who cannot use or have not benefited from local estrogen-based therapies. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does non-ablative dual-wavelength diode laser therapy improve vaginal dryness, burning sensation, and dyspareunia in post-menopausal women? What is the impact of this therapy on the vaginal health index and sexual function? Researchers will compare the laser-treated group to their baseline measurements to see if non-ablative dual-wavelength diode laser therapy effectively treats GSM.
Participants will:
Undergo three monthly sessions of dual-wavelength diode laser therapy. Participate in follow-up evaluations at three and six months post-treatment. Complete self-assessments of GSM symptoms and questionnaires evaluating sexual function and quality of life at each follow-up.
This study aims to provide preliminary evidence that non-ablative dual-wavelength diode laser therapy is a safe and effective non-hormonal treatment for GSM, addressing a gap in existing treatments for women who cannot use or have not benefited from hormonal therapies.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laser Therapy Group | Participants will receive non-ablative dual-wavelength diode laser therapy for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM). The intervention includes three monthly sessions using the Leonardo® Diode laser (Biolitec®) with wavelengths of 980 nm and 1470 nm. Each session lasts about 20 minutes and involves 8 pulses per centimeter along the vaginal canal. Local lidocaine gel is used as an anesthetic. Evaluations occur at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months post-treatment. |
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| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leonardo® Diode laser | Device | The intervention involves non-ablative dual-wavelength diode laser therapy for treating Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM). This includes three monthly sessions of the Leonardo® Diode laser (Biolitec®), with wavelengths of 980 nm and 1470 nm, delivering 8 pulses per centimeter along the vaginal canal, using local lidocaine gel as an anesthetic. Evaluations are conducted at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months post-treatment. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Vaginal Dryness | Measurement of the change in vaginal dryness scores using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The Visual Analog Scale ranges from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating worse vaginal dryness. | Baseline, 3 months, 6 months after the final laser treatment |
| Change in Burning Sensation | Measurement of the change in burning sensation scores using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The Visual Analog Scale ranges from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating worse burning sensation. | Baseline, 3 months, and 6 months after the final laser treatment |
| Change in Pain During Intercourse (Dyspareunia) | Measurement of the change in pain during intercourse scores using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The Visual Analog Scale ranges from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating worse pain during intercourse. | Baseline, 3 months, and 6 months after the final laser treatment |
| Change in Vaginal Health Index Score (VHIS) | Measurement of the change in the Vaginal Health Index Score (VHIS), which examines five aspects of vaginal health: elasticity, fluid volume, pH, epithelial integrity, and moisture. Each component is rated on a scale from 1 (indicating severe vaginal atrophy) to 5 (indicating no clinical signs of vaginal atrophy), with a total score below 15 confirming vaginal atrophy. Higher scores indicate better vaginal health. | Baseline, 3 months, and 6 months after the final laser treatment |
| Change in Sexual Function | Measurement of the change in sexual function scores using the Female Sexual Function Index-6 (FSFI-6). The FSFI-6 is a six-item version of the Female Sexual Function Index-19 (FSFI-19) and includes one item from each original domain: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. Responses range from 0 (no sexual activity) to 5 (optimal function), with higher scores indicating better sexual function. An FSFI-6 score of 19.0 or less indicates sexual dysfunction. |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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The study population consists of post-menopausal women aged 45-73 years who are experiencing symptoms of Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM). These women are sexually active and have experienced physiological amenorrhea for more than 12 months. The participants have not used lubricants or hormonal therapy in the previous six months. The study targets those who cannot use or have not benefited from local estrogen-based therapies.
| Name | Role | Phone | Extension | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stefano Angioni | Contact | +3907051093399 | sangioni@yahoo.it |
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Stefano Angioni | University of Cagliari | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division of Gynecology and Obstetrics Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy | Recruiting | Cagliari | CA | 09042 | Italy |
| PubMed Identifier | Type | Citation | Retractions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31855563 | Background | Elia D, Gambacciani M, Berreni N, Bohbot JM, Druckmann R, Geoffrion H, Haab F, Heiss N, Rygaloff N, Russo E. Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) and laser VEL: a review. Horm Mol Biol Clin Investig. 2019 Dec 19;41(1):/j/hmbci.2020.41.issue-1/hmbci-2019-0024/hmbci-2019-0024.xml. doi: 10.1515/hmbci-2019-0024. | |
| 31990089 | Background |
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| Baseline, 3 months, and 6 months after the final laser treatment |
| Change in Sexual Quality of Life | Measurement of the change in scores on the Sexual Quality of Life-Female (SQOL-F) questionnaire. The SQOL-F questionnaire consists of 18 items that assess sexual self-esteem, emotional well-being, and relationship issues. Scores range from 18 to 108, with higher scores indicating better sexual quality of life. | Baseline, 3 months, and 6 months after the final laser treatment |
| Change in Sexual Function | Measurement of the change in sexual function scores using the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12). The PISQ-12 is a 12-item questionnaire used to evaluate sexual function in patients suffering from urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse. It explores three domains: behavioral-emotive, physical, and partner-related, scored on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 (always) to 4 (never), with reverse scoring for the first four items. Higher scores indicate better sexual function. | Baseline, 3 months, and 6 months after the final laser treatment |
| Aguiar LB, Politano CA, Costa-Paiva L, Juliato CRT. Efficacy of Fractional CO2 Laser, Promestriene, and Vaginal Lubricant in the Treatment of Urinary Symptoms in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Lasers Surg Med. 2020 Oct;52(8):713-720. doi: 10.1002/lsm.23220. Epub 2020 Jan 28. |
| 32010212 | Background | Knight C, Logan V, Fenlon D. A systematic review of laser therapy for vulvovaginal atrophy/genitourinary syndrome of menopause in breast cancer survivors. Ecancermedicalscience. 2019 Dec 12;13:988. doi: 10.3332/ecancer.2019.988. eCollection 2019. |
| 29726916 | Background | Samuels JB, Garcia MA. Treatment to External Labia and Vaginal Canal With CO2 Laser for Symptoms of Vulvovaginal Atrophy in Postmenopausal Women. Aesthet Surg J. 2019 Jan 1;39(1):83-93. doi: 10.1093/asj/sjy087. |
| 28492016 | Background | Karcher C, Sadick N. Vaginal rejuvenation using energy-based devices. Int J Womens Dermatol. 2016 Jun 21;2(3):85-88. doi: 10.1016/j.ijwd.2016.05.003. eCollection 2016 Sep. |
| 29795970 | Background | Eder SE. Early effect of fractional CO2 laser treatment in Post-menopausal women with vaginal atrophy. Laser Ther. 2018 Mar 31;27(1):41-47. doi: 10.5978/islsm.18-OR-04. |
| 29436235 | Background | Gambacciani M, Levancini M, Russo E, Vacca L, Simoncini T, Cervigni M. Long-term effects of vaginal erbium laser in the treatment of genitourinary syndrome of menopause. Climacteric. 2018 Apr;21(2):148-152. doi: 10.1080/13697137.2018.1436538. Epub 2018 Feb 13. |
| 25426409 | Background | Angioni S, Mais V, Pontis A, Peiretti M, Nappi L. First case of prophylactic salpingectomy with single port access laparoscopy and a new diode laser in a woman with BRCA mutation. Gynecol Oncol Case Rep. 2014 May 19;9:21-3. doi: 10.1016/j.gynor.2014.05.002. eCollection 2014 Aug. |
| 26390708 | Background | Angioni S, Pontis A, Sorrentino F, Nappi L. Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and adhesiolysis with single port access laparoscopy and use of diode laser in a BRCA carrier. Eur J Gynaecol Oncol. 2015;36(4):479-81. |
| 26359914 | Background | Nappi L, Angioni S, Sorrentino F, Cinnella G, Lombardi M, Greco P. Anti-Mullerian hormone trend evaluation after laparoscopic surgery of monolateral endometrioma using a new dual wavelengths laser system (DWLS) for hemostasis. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2016;32(1):34-7. doi: 10.3109/09513590.2015.1068754. Epub 2015 Aug 28. |
| 27632410 | Background | Nappi L, Pontis A, Sorrentino F, Greco P, Angioni S. Hysteroscopic metroplasty for the septate uterus with diode laser: a pilot study. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2016 Nov;206:32-35. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2016.08.035. Epub 2016 Aug 31. |
| 27834002 | Background | Nappi L, Sorrentino F, Angioni S, Pontis A, Litta P, Greco P. Feasibility of hysteroscopic endometrial polypectomy using a new dual wavelengths laser system (DWLS): preliminary results of a pilot study. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2017 Jan;295(1):3-7. doi: 10.1007/s00404-016-4232-5. Epub 2016 Nov 11. |
| 33090039 | Background | Esteban Manchado B, Lopez-Yarto M, Fernandez-Parra J, Rodriguez-Oliver A, Gonzalez-Paredes A, Lagana AS, Garzon S, Haimovich S. Office hysteroscopic metroplasty with diode laser for septate uterus: a multicenter cohort study. Minim Invasive Ther Allied Technol. 2022 Mar;31(3):441-447. doi: 10.1080/13645706.2020.1837181. Epub 2020 Oct 22. |
| 10782451 | Background | Rosen R, Brown C, Heiman J, Leiblum S, Meston C, Shabsigh R, Ferguson D, D'Agostino R Jr. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI): a multidimensional self-report instrument for the assessment of female sexual function. J Sex Marital Ther. 2000 Apr-Jun;26(2):191-208. doi: 10.1080/009262300278597. |
| 23642126 | Background | Maasoumi R, Lamyian M, Montazeri A, Azin SA, Aguilar-Vafaie ME, Hajizadeh E. The sexual quality of life-female (SQOL-F) questionnaire: translation and psychometric properties of the Iranian version. Reprod Health. 2013 May 5;10:25. doi: 10.1186/1742-4755-10-25. |
| 7100262 | Background | Fahndrich E, Linden M. [Reliability and validity of the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) (author's transl)]. Pharmacopsychiatria. 1982 May;15(3):90-4. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-1019515. German. |
| 25549067 | Background | Bachmann GA, Phillips NA. Vaginal health prescription: possible next step in the management of genitourinary syndrome of menopause. Menopause. 2015 Feb;22(2):127-8. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000000414. No abstract available. |
| 29198513 | Background | Dargie E, Holden RR, Pukall CF. The Vulvar Pain Assessment Questionnaire: Factor Structure, Preliminary Norms, Internal Consistency, and Test-Retest Reliability. J Sex Med. 2017 Dec;14(12):1585-1596. doi: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2017.10.072. |
| 39470875 | Derived | Vitale SG, Saponara S, Succu AG, Sicilia G, Martsidis K, D'Alterio MN, Angioni S. Efficacy and Safety of Non-Ablative Dual Wavelength Diode Laser Therapy for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: A Single-Center Prospective Study. Adv Ther. 2024 Dec;41(12):4617-4627. doi: 10.1007/s12325-024-03004-7. Epub 2024 Oct 29. |