Short-term effects of an erbium/neodymium laser combination in superficial dyspareunia: a pilot study

Figures & data

Figure 1. Mean visual analog scale (VAS) score over time for the two treatment groups. Vaginal erbium laser (VEL) group and VEL + Nd:YAG group VAS scores were compared using the post-hoc test with Bonferroni correction. *p < 0.001 versus T0 of VEL group. **p < 0.001 versus T0 of VEL + Nd:YAG group. ^§p < 0.001 versus corresponding time of VEL group. L1, L2, L3, laser applications; T0 (baseline), 2–4 weeks prior to first laser treatment; T1, 1 month from last laser application; T3, 3 months from last laser application; VEL + Nd:YAG, neodymium:yttrium–aluminum–garnet.

Table 1. Characteristics of overall trend of means observed in the two groups.

	VEL group		VEL + Nd:YAG group
Trend	Estimate	95% CI	Estimate	95% CI
Linear	−2.30^a	−2.77; −1.82	−4.57^a	−5.04; −4.09
Quadratic	1.21^a	0.74; 1.68	2.03^a	1.56; 2.50
Cubic	−0.49^b	−0.96; − 0.02	−0.96^a	−1.43; −0.49

^ap < 0.001.

^bp < 0.05.

Both slopes showed a significant linear, quadratic and cubic shape. Parameter estimates with their 95% confidence interval (CI) are reported. Nd:YAG, neodymium:yttrium–aluminum–garnet; VEL, vaginal erbium laser.

Table 2. Results of multiple linear regression model of the difference between VAS score at T0 and at T3 (Δ_T0/T3) corrected for age during treatment, YSM and treatment performed.

Characteristic	Estimate	95% CI	p-Value
Age (years)	−0.09	−0.33; 0.14	0.394
YSM (years)	0.05	−0.11; 0.21	0.520
Treatment	−3.05	−4.27; −1.83	<0.001

Parameter estimates with their 95% confidence interval (CI) are reported. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. T0 (baseline), 2–4 weeks prior to first laser treatment; T3, 3 months from last laser application; VAS, visual analog scale; VEL, vaginal erbium laser; YSM, years since menopause.