Vaginal Laser Therapy not better than first line therapy for genitourinary syndrome of menopause in breast cancer survivors: JAMA

A new study by Eduard Mension and team found that CO2 vaginal laser therapy (CLT) for genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) in breast cancer survivors who were receiving aromatase inhibitors was safe but not effective than first line care. The findings were published in the Journal of American Medical Association.

GSM is a common condition in menopausal women that affects the vagina and urinary tract, causing symptoms such as dryness, itching, burning, and pain during sexual activity. Breast cancer survivors who receive aromatase inhibitors may experience more severe symptoms of GSM due to reduced estrogen levels, which can exacerbate vaginal dryness and other related symptoms.

The study enrolled 72 breast cancer survivors with GSM who were randomized into two groups, one receiving CLT and the other receiving sham laser therapy (SLT) as a control. Both groups were instructed to use non hormonal moisturizers and vaginal vibrator stimulation as a first-line treatment (FLT).

The results showed that both CLT and SLT groups showed improvements in subjective and objective outcomes (sexual function, vaginal health, quality of life, vaginal maturation index, vaginal epithelial elasticity and thickness) after 6 months of follow-up, but there were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of efficacy.