Láser CO2 vaginal, indicaciones y aplicaciones / Vaginal CO2 laser, indications and applications

El síndrome genitourinario es una entidad hoy en día cada vez más frecuente en la mujer posmenopáusica, con signos y síntomas muy característicos que llevan a la pérdida de calidad de vida de las pacientes, generados por la disminución de estrógenos. Su diagnóstico se realiza mediante una buena historia clínica, exámenes hormonales, estudios urodinámicos y de pH vaginal. Su clínica varía desde sequedad vaginal, atrofia de la misma, vaginitis a repetición, pérdida de orina al esfuerzo, nicturia y dispareunia. A los largo de los años se han protocolizado diferentes tratamientos como reemplazos hormonales, lubricantes y cirugías invasivas vaginales. Pero en los últimos años ha aparecido una nueva terapéutica de láser CO2 fraccionado. Materiales y método. Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo de seis años de evolución, entre los años 2017 y 2023, con más de 300 pacientes tratadas con tecnología láser CO2 fraccionado, con criterios de inclusión y exclusión, protocolizando 3 sesiones cada 30 días y controles hasta los 6 meses. Resultados. Para evaluar los resultados se diseñó una encuentra de satisfacción de 5 puntos, la cual fue presentada luego de cada sesión, encontrando un alto grado de satisfacción en la mejoría clínica a medida que transcurrían las sesiones, con un muy bajo índice de complicaciones. También biopsias con mejorías histológicas que demuestran resultados. Discusión. La aplicación de esta nueva tecnología láser nos abre una posibilidad terapéutica segura, rápida y efectiva para mejorar la sintomatología y calidad de vida de nuestras pacientes con síndrome genitourinario, sumando una nueva terapéutica a todo el arsenal de tratamientos médico-quirúrgicos disponibles a la fecha. Conclusiones. El síndrome genitourinario es una entidad prácticamente inevitable, con síntomas desde leves a graves, que afecta la calidad de vida personal, sexual y social. Los tratamientos hasta la fecha hormonales, tópicos o quirúrgicos han dado mediocres resultados sin estar exentos de complicaciones, por lo que la aparición de la tecnología láser CO2 fraccionada nos ha dado el plus necesario para aportar un tratamiento seguro, eficaz, con mínimas complicaciones y una curva de aprendizaje pequeña

Genitourinary syndrome is an increasingly frequent entity in postmenopausal women today, with very characteristic signs and symptoms that lead to a loss of quality of life in patients, generated by estrogen depletion, whose diagnosis is made through a good clinical history, hormonal tests, urodynamic and vaginal pH studies. Its symptoms vary from vaginal dryness, vaginal atrophy, repeated vaginitis, loss of urine on exertion, nocturia and dyspareunia. Over the years, different treatments have been protocolized, such as hormone replacements, lubricants, and invasive vaginal surgeries. But in recent years a new fractionated CO2 laser therapy has appeared. Materials and method. A retrospective study of six years of evolution was carried out, between the years 2017 and 2023, with more than 300 patients treated with fractionated CO2 laser technology, with inclusion and exclusion criteria, protocolizing 3 sessions every 30 days and controls until the 6 months. Results. To evaluate the results, a 5-point satisfaction score was designed, which was presented after each session, finding a high degree of satisfaction in the clinical improvement as the sessions progressed with a very low indication of complications. Also biopsies with histological improvements that demonstrate results. Discussion. The application of this new laser technology opens up a safe, fast and effective therapeutic possibility to improve the symptoms and quality of life of our patients with genitourinary syndrome, adding a new therapeutic option to the arsenal of medical-surgical treatments available to date. Conclusions. Genitourinary syndrome is a practically inevitable entity, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe, affecting the quality of personal, sexual and social life. The hormonal, topical or surgical treatments to date have given mediocre results, not being free of complications, so the appearance of fractionated CO2 laser technology has given us the necessary extra to provide a safe, effective treatment, with minimal complications. and a small learning curve.

Therapeutic Approaches to Atrophic Vaginitis in Postmenopausal Women: A Systematic Review with a Network Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

OBJECTIVES: Atrophic vaginitis (AV), which is common in postmenopausal women, is characterized by vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, and discomfort. There are a variety of therapeutic agents for the treatment of AV, besides hormone replacement therapy. We performed this systematic review to compare the effectiveness of various therapies for symptom improvement in AV patients. METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and other literature (Google Scholar, Web of Science, and hand search) for studies published between January 2010 and March 2015. AV was evaluated by the following outcomes: vaginal pH, dyspareunia, vaginal dryness, or cytological change (endometrial thickness, percentages of superficial cells and parabasal cells). They measured treatment efficacy with various outcomes pertaining to AV symptoms. RESULTS: Meta-analysis suggested that ospemifene was effective against dyspareunia, vaginal dryness, endometrial thickness, and percentage changes in superficial and parabasal cells. Vaginal pH was most affected by soy isoflavone vaginal gel. Ospemifene was effective for AV symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review compared the effects of several therapeutic agents on symptoms of AV through a network meta-analysis. This study provides objective evidence for clinical treatment and efficacy management in AV.

Effect of Herbal Medicine on Vaginal Epithelial Cells: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES: The present meta-analysis aimed to assess the effect of the herbal medicine on the vaginal epithelial cells (VECs) among the menopausal subjects. METHODS: The literature related to VECs exposed to various herbal medicines in menopausal women were searched on three databases, MEDLINE (1966–August 2017), Scopus (1990–August 2017) and Cochrane Library (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials; 2014). RESULTS: Totally, the meta-analysis was conducted on 11 randomised controlled trials. Based on the findings, the standardized mean difference (SMD) of maturation value (MV) was observed to be elevated by 0.48% (95% interval confidence [CI], 0.108–0.871; P = 0.012), as well as the heterogeneity was high (I2 = 84%; P < 0.001). The MV revealed a significant increase in soy group (SMD, 0.358; 95% CI, 0.073–0.871; P = 0.014) compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The herbal medicines exhibited a statistically significant effect on the VECs. A significant effect on the VECs was also found in the subgroup analysis of the patients, who received soy. However, further and extensive studies are required to achieve reliable outcomes.

Prevalence and risk factors of urinary incontinence among perimenopausal women in Wuhan / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

This study investigated the prevalence and risk factors of urinary incontinence (UI) among perimenopausal women in Wuhan. A cross-sectional survey was performed on 1067 women aged 40-65 years sampled in Wuhan urban area from April to October 2014. Information about demographic characteristics, menstruation, parity and UI symptoms was collected using a questionnaire. The data were evaluated by Chi-square test and multiple Logistic regression analysis. The prevalence rate of UI was 37.2%, with stress UI (32.2%) being more prevalent than urgency UI (21.6%) and mixed UI (16.6%). 31.2% women with UI stated that UI had negative impact on their life. Risk factors for UI included menstrual disorder, menopause, overweight, perineal laceration, atrophic vaginitis, constipation and pelvic organ prolapse. Appropriate investigation apropos the factors associated with UI should be performed to diminish its impact on women's life.

The Recent Review of the Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause

The genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) is a new term that describes various menopausal symptoms and signs including not only genital symptoms (dryness, burning, and irritation), and sexual symptoms (lack of lubrication, discomfort or pain, and impaired function, but also urinary symptoms (urgency, dysuria, and recurrent urinary tract infections). The terms vulvovaginal atrophy and atrophic vaginitis, which were generally used until recently, had a limitation because they did not cover the full spectrum of symptoms and did not imply that the symptoms are related to a decreased estrogen level in menopause. Since the GSM may have a profound negative impact on the quality of life of postmenopausal women, women should be made aware of these problems and treated with an appropriate effective therapy. Thus, in this review we introduce new terminology and discuss the importance of comprehension of GSM and the necessity of active treatment of this syndrome in postmenopausal women.

Manejo de la atrofia vulvovaginal posmenopáusica / Management of postmenopausal vulvovaginal atrophy

Objetivo: Identificar las propuestas terapéuticas disponibles para el manejo de la vulvovaginitis atrófica o atrofia vulvovaginal posmenopáusica (AVVP) o síndrome genitourinario de la menopausia. Metodología: Revisión temática sin intervención en la cual se incluyeron artículos cuyo principal criterio fue tratamiento y manejo de la AVVP, obtenidos luego de búsqueda en las bases de datos: Pubmed, Science Direct, Embase, Medline y Scielo. 2119 títulos se consideraron adecuados, 136 ajustados al objetivo y en 87 fue identificada información relevante. Resultados: Diferentes estrategias terapéuticas han mostrado eficacia para el tratamiento de AVVP. Cambios en el estilo de vida, como evitar el hábito de fumar, prevenir la obesidad, realizar ejercicio físico y adelantar actividad sexual, pueden ser beneficiosos. Los hidratantes y lubricantes vaginales son la primera línea terapéutica para mejorar la AVVP, los primeros se administran permanentemente y los últimos en el coito. Existe controversia acerca de la importancia de la vitamina D, isoflavonas y diferentes hierbas. La terapia estrogénica local es la terapéutica más efectiva y debe preferirse siempre en AVVP severa, puede ser estriol, estradiol, estrógenos conjugados o estrona. El ospemifeno, un modulador selectivo del receptor estrogénico, está aprobado para la AVVP. Se encuentran en investigación los TSECs, existe poca información sobre la eficacia de DHEA y son buenos los resultados con los STEAR. Estudios iniciales han señalado los beneficios del láser fraccionado de CO2. Conclusiones: Diferentes medidas son adecuadas para tratar la AVVP, para que las mujeres conserven saludable la vagina y disfruten la actividad sexual.

Objective: To identify the available therapeutic proposals for the management of the atrophic vulvovaginitis or vulvovaginal atrophy in postmenopause (VVAP) or genitourinary syndrome of menopause. Methods: Thematic review without intervention in which there was included articles whose main criterion was treatment and management of the VVAP, obtained after search in the databases: Pubmed, Science Direct, Embase, Medline and Scielo. 2119 titles were considered appropriate, 136 were adjusted to the aim and in 87 relevants information was identified. Results: Different therapeutic strategies have shown effectiveness for the treatment of the VVAP. Changes in the lifestyle, as to avoid the smoking habit, to prevent the obesity, to do exercise and to practice sexual activity, could be beneficial. The vaginal moisturizers and lubricants are the first-line therapies for the improvement of the VVAP, the first ones are administered permanently and the last ones are used during the coitus. There is controversy about the importance of the D vitamin, soya isoflavones and different herbs. The local estrogen therapy is the most effective therapeutic and it always must be preferred in severe VVAP. It could be estriol, estradiol, conjugated estrogens or estrone. The ospemifene, a selective estrogen-receptor modulator, is approved for the VVAP. The TSECs are in research, few information exists about the effectiveness of DHEA and the results with the STEAR are good. Initial studies have indicated the benefits of the fractional CO2 laser. Conclusions: Different measures are appropriate to treat the VVAP, in order that the women preserve a healthy vagina and enjoy the sexual activity.

Expression of Ezrin in Vagina Cells of Postmenopausal Rats after Dietary Administration of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Formula

OBJECTIVES: To see the effect of dietary administration of omega 3-fatty acid formula on the vaginal cells of postmenopausal rats. METHODS: Three-week-old female Wistar/ST rats were raised after one week of adjustment period. The rats were then divided into three groups, for three different kinds of diet; general diet, 1% omega-3 fatty acid diet, and 2% omega-3 fatty acid diet. After eight weeks of having assigned diet, after the oophorectomy, with the same diet previously they had Immunohistochemistry, Immunofluorescence, and Western Blot about ezrin, merlin were done. RESULTS: In immunohistochemistry, estrogen injection group revealed thicker and well differentiated features. In Immunofluorescence, Omega-3 fatty acid composition in diet did not effect expression of ezrin and merlin in rat vagina in estrogen injection group, their vaginal epithelium showed full layers (from basal to apical layer). In Western Blot analysis, Omega-3 fatty acid composition in diet did not affect expression of ezrin and merlin in rat vagina estrogen presented significant impact on expression of ezrin and merlin. CONCLUSION: Although omega-3 fatty acid composition changed in diet, vaginal epithelial morphology unchanged. Estrogen did effect on vagina cell, but omega-3 fatty acid did not effect on ezrin and merlin in vagina.

The Clinical Manifestation of the Gynecologic Emergency in Postmenopausal Women / 대한폐경학회지

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess the clinical characteristics of postmenopausal women who were admitted to the emergency room. METHODS: This study was conducted at a university hospital. The retrospective study of medical records comprised 26 patients who were admitted to the emergency room, between September 2010 and August 2011. RESULTS: The age of the twenty-six patients was 51-90 years. Abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding were the main complaints. The final diagnoses were 6 cases of postmenopausal atrophic vaginitis, 6 cases of ovarian cyst, 5 cases of pelvic inflammation disease, 3 cases of post-conization bleeding, 1 case of menopausal symptoms, 1 case of atrophic endometrium, 1 case of uterine prolapse, 1 case of pyometra, and acute pyeolonephritis with stone. Among the 6 cases of ovarian cyst, 5 cases performed an operation. Pathologic findings revealed 2 cases of simple cyst, 1 case of paratubal cyst, 1 case of teratoma, and 1 case of granulosa cell tumor. CONCLUSION: The incidence of post-menopausal distress in women is increasing, and the numbers of post-menopausal women being admitted to the emergency room are also increasing, so attention needs to be paid to the case of postmenopausal women in the future.

Changes of Urinary Tract after Menopause and Effectiveness of Menopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy / 대한폐경학회지

Because sex hormones influence the lower urinary tract, menopause can cause several urinary diseases including overactive bladder, stress urinary incontinence and recurrent urinary tract infection. However, the results of many clinical studies have indicated that menopausal hormone replacement therapy is not effective for the treatment of previous diseases, especially via the oral route. Although estrogen vaginal cream or pessary is an effective treatment for overactive bladders and can prevent recurrent urinary tract infection, its beneficial effects only last for the duration of the treatment. If patients with previous mentioned urologic disease have other local symptoms and conditions, such as atrophic vaginitis and dyspareunia, local estrogen replacement therapy will be helpful in relieving the local symptoms. However, the potential for breast cancer or return of withdrawal of bleeding, patient's age, adverse effect of systemic administration, estrogen-progesterone combination therapy, and effectiveness among other treatment modalities must be considered before a treatment decision can be made. In this article, we will review the current issues on the relationship among urinary tract and sex hormone and menopause, and the effectiveness of menopausal hormone replacement therapy for the treatment of overactive bladders, stress urinary tract incontinence and recurrent urinary tract infection.

Microbiologic and Molecular Genetic Analysis of Lactobacillus spp. Isolated from Vagina of Korean Women and A Pilot Clinical Study on the Treatment of Vaginitis using the Best Lactobacillus Strain KLB 46 / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analize the biologic and molecular genetic characteristics of Lactobacillus spp. isolated from vagina of Korean healthy women and to perform a pilot clinical study on the treatment of vaginitis using the best Lactobacillus strain KLB 46. METHODS: Vaginal specimens were obtained from 205 Korean women with healthy vaginal ecosystems. 155 lactobacillus strains were used for catalase test, cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) test and antimicrobial activity test. Also we identified the species prevalence by PCR-RFLP analysis of 16S rDNA gene and performed the minimal inhibitory concentrationtest using14 antibiotics to determine their patterns of antibiotic susceptibility. A pilot clinical trial of 8 bacterial vaginosis, 1 trichomonas vaginitis and 6 atrophic vaginitis using Lactobacillus crispatus KLB 46 was done by vaginal instillation (10(10)-10(11) cells/mL). RESULTS: 155 lactobacilli strains were isolated and all isolates showed high CSH and 61% of the isolates had higher CSH. L. acidophilus and L. crispatus were the most prevalent species by PCR-RFLP analysis of their 16S rDNA gene. And PCR-RFLP analysis suggested that KLB 46 was L. crispatus. The clinical study showed that the vaginal epithelial adherence rate was high as 77% for bacterial vaginosis and 33.3% for atrophic vaginitis. CONCLUSION: The predominating lactobacilli were L. crispatus and L. acidophilus in Korean women's vaginas. Although further study would be needed, L. crispatus KLB 46 is a good candidate of suitable probiotics for bacterial vaginosis.