INTRODUCTION
Device-based therapeutic approaches are being focused on women’s genitourinary health to provide hormone-free non-surgical treatment alternatives for menopausal vaginal and urinary signs and symptoms defined as genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM).1-3 Several lasers, including fractional carbon dioxide (FxCO2), erbium:yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG), and hybrid 1470-nm diode, and radiofrequency (RF) devices, are FDA cleared for vaporization, incision, excision, ablation, or photocoagulation of genitourinary tissue. Fractional CO2 (10,600 nm), Er:YAG (2940 nm), and diode (1470 nm) lasers create microcolumns of vaporized or thermally denatured tissue in the vulva and vagina, stimulating histological findings of thickened glycogen-rich epithelium, fibroplasia, neocollagenesis, angiogenesis, and restoration of papillation, which correlate with clinical improvements in GSM signs and symptoms.1-6 An at-home red and infrared light device has been demonstrated in published studies to improve vaginal health on validated scales and indices and may provide practical alternative to in office procedures.7,8 FxCO2 has been shown to improve the signs and symptoms of vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI), however the results begin to wane between 6 and 12 months post-treatment.9,10 A post-menopausal population that completed 12-month follow after a series of FxCO2 vulvovaginal treatments were subsequently treated with an at-home red and infrared LED vaginal device with long-term follow-up to 1 year.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Patients
10 post-menopausal subjects completing 12-month follow up following three FxCO2 treatments to the vulva and vagina for GSM were enrolled for treatment with an at-home red and infrared
10 post-menopausal subjects completing 12-month follow up following three FxCO2 treatments to the vulva and vagina for GSM were enrolled for treatment with an at-home red and infrared