TY - JOUR
T1 - Microablative Fractional CO2 Laser for Vulvovaginal Atrophy in Women With a History of Breast Cancer
T2 - A Pilot Study at 4-week Follow-up
AU - Salvatore, Stefano
AU - Nappi, Rossella E.
AU - Casiraghi, Arianna
AU - Ruffolo, Alessandro F.
AU - Degliuomini, Rebecca
AU - Parma, Marta
AU - Roberti Leone Maggiori, Umberto
AU - Athanasiou, Stavros
AU - Candiani, Massimo
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier Inc.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - The aim of this pilot study is to assess the efficacy and safety of microablative fractional CO2 laser for treating vulvovaginal (VVA) symptoms in women with a history of breast cancer (BC) at 20-week follow-up since the first laser treatment. We enrolled 40 women with a history of BC and who currently were or had been on treatment with endocrine therapy for their condition. Each of them was treated with 5 laser applications (one every 4 weeks), and the effects of the laser treatment on VVA symptoms were measured using a 10-cm visual analog scale after 20 weeks of follow-up. Changes in the Vaginal Health Index after treatment were compared with baseline. Changes in overall quality of life were assessed with a generic quality of life questionnaire: Short Form 12. Sexual function was evaluated by the Female Sexual Function Index. After 20 weeks of follow-up, microablative fractional CO2 laser was safe and effective in treating VVA symptoms in women with a history of BC, irrespective of being previously or currently on endocrine therapies.
AB - The aim of this pilot study is to assess the efficacy and safety of microablative fractional CO2 laser for treating vulvovaginal (VVA) symptoms in women with a history of breast cancer (BC) at 20-week follow-up since the first laser treatment. We enrolled 40 women with a history of BC and who currently were or had been on treatment with endocrine therapy for their condition. Each of them was treated with 5 laser applications (one every 4 weeks), and the effects of the laser treatment on VVA symptoms were measured using a 10-cm visual analog scale after 20 weeks of follow-up. Changes in the Vaginal Health Index after treatment were compared with baseline. Changes in overall quality of life were assessed with a generic quality of life questionnaire: Short Form 12. Sexual function was evaluated by the Female Sexual Function Index. After 20 weeks of follow-up, microablative fractional CO2 laser was safe and effective in treating VVA symptoms in women with a history of BC, irrespective of being previously or currently on endocrine therapies.
KW - Dyspareunia
KW - Menopause
KW - Sexual function
KW - Sexual intercourse
KW - Vaginal dryness
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U2 - 10.1016/j.clbc.2021.01.006
DO - 10.1016/j.clbc.2021.01.006
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85102847821
JO - Clinical Breast Cancer
JF - Clinical Breast Cancer
SN - 1526-8209
ER -