Long-term effects of vaginal erbium laser in the treatment of genitourinary syndrome of menopause

Figures & data

Table 1. Baseline characteristics of participants. Data are expressed as a mean ± standard deviation.

	Vaginal erbium laser group (n = 205)	Local treatment group (n = 49)
Age (years)	61.2 ± 7.2	62.0 ± 7.5
Age at menopause (years)	47.9 ± 5.7	50.5 ± 4.3
Years since menopause	13.4 ± 7.2	12.8 ± 3.8
Body mass index (kg/m^2)	27.1 ± 5.3	25 ± 5.4

Figure 1. Effect of second-generation laser thermotherapy on vaginal dryness (upper panel) and dyspareunia (lower panel) (visual analog score, VAS: 10-point scale). VEL, vaginal erbium laser group; LT, local treatment group. *p < 0.01 vs. corresponding basal values in both groups; †, p < 0.05 vs. LT basal values and corresponding VEL group values; see text for details.

Table 2. Effect of second-generation laser thermotherapy on vaginal dryness and dyspareunia (visual analog score, VAS: 10-point scale).

	Atrophy		Dyspareunia		Vaginal Health Index Score		Vaginal erbium laser
	VEL	LT	VEL	LT	VEL	LT	Group (n)	Effective (months)	Repeat (n)
Basal	8.3 ± 1.5	8.0 ± 2.7	8.5 ± 1.3	8.0 ± 2.7	10.6 ± 2.7	10.8 ± 1.7	205
L1	5.2 ± 1.7^a	3.1 ± 1.5	5.1 ± 1.8^a	4.5 ± 1.5^a	16.2 ± 1.5^a	18 ± 2.5^a	205
L2	4.3 ± 20^a	3.0 ± 2.0^a	4.0 ± 1.9^a	4.2 ± 2.0^a	18.1 ± 2.0^a	19 ± 2.4^a	205
L3	3.0 ± 1.3^a	4.0 ± 2.1^a	4.1 ± 1.9^a	3.8 ± 2.1^a	19.5 ± 1.2^a	18 ± 2.6^a	205
T1	3.0 ± 1.1^a	3.0 ± 1.5^a	3.5 ± 1.0^a	4.0 ± 1.5^a	20.1 ± 1.3^a	18 ± 2.8^a	204
T3	3.0 ± 0.9^a^,b	5.0 ± 2.9	3.8 ± 1.5^a	6.8 ± 1.5^b	19.5 ± 1.5^a	16 ± 2.7^a	203	23	2
T6	3.5 ± 1.2^a	6.0 ± 3.2^b	4.2 ± 2.0^a	7.7 ± 2.7^b	18.7 ± 1.5^a	12 ± 2.9^a	163	18	20
T12	5.6 ± 1.5^a	–	5.3 ± 2.2^a	–	16.5 ± 2.0^a	–	152	103	62
T18	6.2 ± 1.3	–	7.5 ± 2.3	–	15.3 ± 2.0^a	–	119	49	55
T24	7.0 ± 1.0	–	8.2 ± 2.4	–	12.7 ± 2.7	–	66	5	34

^a p < 0.01 vs. corresponding basal values in both groups; p < 0.05 vs. corresponding laser group values.

VEL, vaginal erbium laser group; LT, local treatment group.

Figure 2. Effect of second-generation laser thermotherapy on International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ- SF) score in 114 postmenopausal women suffering from stress urinary incontinence. *p < 0.01 vs. corresponding basal values; see text for details.