The patient came to us because she had a genitourinary syndrome of menopause, and her main symptom was vaginal atrophy and dryness, which prevented her from having normal sexual relations with her partner, explains Juan Céspedes, head of the Gynecology and Obstetrics department at Policlínica Gipuzkoa.
For women suffering from symptoms related to vaginal atrophy, such as vaginal dryness and small urinary incontinence, usually caused by menopause, and especially for those women who have not found relief with conventional treatments, gynecological CO₂ laser treatment is an effective option to improve their quality of life, explains gynecologist Juan Céspedes, head of the Gynecology and Obstetrics department at Policlínica Gipuzkoa.
As explained by one of his patients who underwent CO₂ vaginal laser treatment at Policlínica Gipuzkoa: she suffered from pelvic pain, vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, and itching, which made daily life difficult. The gynecologist at Policlínica Gipuzkoa adds that the patient came to us because she had a genitourinary syndrome of menopause, and her main symptom was vaginal atrophy and dryness, which prevented her from having normal sexual relations with her partner.
Before undergoing gynecological CO₂ laser treatment, the patient tried to find a solution to her problem through physiotherapy focused on pelvic floor rehabilitation. This treatment helps strengthen the muscles around the bladder, vagina, perineum, and rectum. It is performed by a physiotherapist specialized in bladder, intestinal, and pelvic problems. The gynecologist at Policlínica Gipuzkoa, Juan Céspedes, adds that the patient had also undergone previous unsuccessful treatments, such as estrogen creams or moisturizing creams.
After speaking with the patient, he explains that her desire was to have a better quality of life, which is why she sought out this new gynecological CO₂ laser treatment at Policlínica Gipuzkoa. Juan Céspedes explains that gynecological CO₂ laser is a new medical technology that works by creating micro burns in the vaginal mucosa. These micro burns, almost imperceptible to the patient, force the mucosa to regenerate and hypertrophy, i.e., to become thicker, as during menopause and with atrophy, the vaginal mucosa tends to thin, which also decreases vaginal flow.
Additionally, Céspedes points out that the laser allows correcting mainly vaginal atrophy, mild urinary incontinence, and symptoms derived from pelvic organ prolapse. He also highlights that it is used for small interventions, such as removing condylomas, which are small warts in the vulvar area, and performing nymphoplasty, which is the correction of enlarged labia minora in patients.
The head of the Gynecology department at Policlínica Gipuzkoa explains that, to perform the gynecological CO₂ laser treatment, we first apply an anesthetic cream about 30 minutes beforehand to avoid pain during the procedure. Then, we place a guide at the entrance of the vagina and insert the laser applicator, a small tube that does not cause discomfort. The aforementioned micro burns are done within a span of 15 to 20 minutes, and after the procedure, the patient can go home and resume their normal life.
Céspedes emphasizes that this technique, which is done in office and requires at least three sessions spaced over time, has a positive and lasting impact: CO₂ vaginal laser treatment has been shown to be successful, with a significant improvement in vaginal flow and normalization of sexual relations.
The patient stresses that the improvement was noticeable from the first session and continues to experience positive advances with the treatment. After completing the three sessions, the patient notes a significant improvement and explains that she no longer has vaginal itching or discomfort, intercourse is painless, and her quality of life has greatly improved. Finally, she concludes that she would recommend the treatment to other women without hesitation.
Source: MiMub in Spanish