Management of vulvovaginal atrophy: Physical therapies. Postmenopausal women management: CNGOF and GEMVi clinical practice guidelines

For some patients, local hormonal or non-hormonal treatments for genitourinary syndrome of menopause (SGUM) are contraindicated or insufficiently effective. Different physical therapies such as vaginal laser therapy, radiofrequency therapy, photobiomodulation therapy and local injection of hyaluronic acid, autologous fat (lipofilling) and platelet rich plasma (PRP) have been proposed as alternatives.

The objective of this review was to elaborate guidelines for clinical practice regarding the physical therapies proposed for management of vulvovaginal atrophy (AVV).

A systematic review of the literature on AVV management with physical therapies was conducted on Medline between January 2014 and December 2020.

Regarding vaginal laser therapy, there are few randomized controlled trials and no formal conclusions can be drawn. The fractional CO2 laser did not demonstrate its superiority over local estrogen therapy. The ERBIUM:YAG laser has not been studied in randomized controlled trials. The lack of follow-up on the vaginal laser and the series of cases reporting risks of vaginal stenosis or chronic pain do not encourage recommending it as a first-line treatment. The literature concerning other physical treatments of AVV is weak concerning the genital area.

CO2 or ERBIUM:YAG vaginal lasers are not the first-line treatment for AVV (grade C). In patients with a contraindication to local hormonal treatments, treatment with vaginal CO2 laser or ERBIUM:YAG may be considered after information about the risks (burn, stenosis, pain) (expert opinion). The other physical treatments of SGUM have to be evaluated.

Published by Gynecologie, obstetrique, fertilite & senologie, 2021. The guideline itself is at the source linked here.

doi.org/10.1016/j.gofs.2021.03.021