Menopause is a natural stage in every woman's life. However, due to hormonal changes in the body over time, some discomforts can occur, especially in the vagina. For example, vaginal dryness and pain during sex. Many people in our society are still a little hesitant to talk about these openly. But these are not things that should be ignored. The good news is that there are now very effective, modern treatments for such problems that do not use hormones. Today we are going to talk about such a special treatment.
What is this MonaLisa Touch?
Simply put, MonaLisa Touch is a non-invasive, specialized laser treatment. It is primarily used to treat a condition called vaginal atrophy. Medically, this condition is also known as Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM).
This GSM condition is what causes symptoms like vaginal dryness and pain during intercourse. MonaLisa Touch treatment works by healing the tissues inside the vagina, restoring its natural moisture, and helping to make sex more comfortable and pain-free.
Often, creams and pills containing the hormone estrogen are given as treatment for these conditions. However, some women cannot take estrogen due to other health reasons (for example, a history of breast cancer). Others do not want to take hormone therapy. For such people, MonaLisa Touch is a great option.
What symptoms does this treatment treat?
With menopause, a woman's body's estrogen hormone levels decrease. Due to this decrease in hormones, the vaginal tissue becomes thinner and drier. The table below lists some of the main symptoms that can occur due to this.
| Symptom | A simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Painful sexual intercourse | Pain and discomfort caused by vaginal dryness and thinning of tissue. |
| Vaginal discomfort and bleeding | Even in normal cases, there may be inflammation, itching, or slight bleeding in the vagina. |
| Frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs) | The tendency to have frequent urinary tract infections due to changes in immunity and thinning of tissues. |
| Inability to control urination (Urinary Incontinence) | Involuntary leakage of a small amount of urine when laughing, coughing, sneezing, or lifting a heavy object. |
| Vaginal inflammation, itching | Constant burning or itching in the vagina for no apparent reason. |
Important: Remember, this treatment does not tighten the vagina. Some people mistakenly think so. There are other treatments for conditions such as vaginal laxity. The main goal of the MonaLisa Touch treatment is to restore the natural moisture and health of the vaginal tissues.
Who is this treatment best for, and who is it not suitable for?
This treatment is not suitable for everyone. It is essential to talk to your doctor before deciding whether this is right for you. You can get a rough idea of this from the table below.
| Suitability/unsuitability | Description |
|---|---|
| When this treatment may be right for you | |
| Menopause | If you are suffering from symptoms caused by low estrogen levels near or after menopause. |
| Failure of other treatments | If you have tried other treatments, such as estrogen cream, and have not had successful results. |
| Other medical conditions | If symptoms are caused by chemotherapy, breast cancer, or hysterectomy. |
| Inappropriate use of estrogen | If taking estrogen hormone is risky due to other health problems. |
| When this treatment may not be right for you | |
| Pregnancy | If you are pregnant or have not had a baby within three months. |
| Active infections | If you have an untreated sexually transmitted infection (STI) or other vaginal infection. |
| Other medical conditions | If you have a condition such as bladder prolapse or are taking blood-thinning medications (anticoagulants). |
How does the treatment work and what happens?
MonaLisa Touch uses a technology called ``CO2 (carbon dioxide) fractional laser.'' In this, thousands of very fine light beams are directed at the tissues of the vaginal canal. These laser beams create very small, controlled "injuries" to the tissues of the inner layer of the vagina.
Don't worry, this is actually a good thing! Because these minor injuries stimulate the body's natural healing process. This means that the body itself begins to create new blood vessels in the area and increase the production of proteins called collagen and elastin, which are essential for skin health and youth. As a result, the vaginal tissues are renewed, thickened, and their natural moisture is restored.
How the treatment is performed
This treatment is performed right in your doctor's office. It doesn't require surgery or anesthesia. It feels just like a Pap smear.
- You will be asked to lie down on a bed where you will be examined.
- A numbing cream can be applied around the vaginal opening.
- Then, the doctor inserts a small wand-like device into the vagina and delivers laser energy.
- At this time, you may feel a slight vibration or a slight burning sensation, like being pricked by a needle, but there is no significant pain.
- The entire treatment takes a very short time, about 5 minutes.
Typically, 3 treatments are recommended, spaced about 6 weeks apart. After that, you may be asked to have a maintenance treatment (touch-up) about once a year to maintain the results.
Side effects and recovery time
The recovery time after this treatment is very quick. You can return to your normal activities the same day. However, some minor side effects may occur.
- Slight inflammation or discomfort at the vaginal opening.
- A few small drops of blood or a pink/brown discharge.
- Slight burning when urinating.
- Slight swelling or redness around the vaginal opening.
These symptoms usually disappear completely within 24-36 hours. If you feel discomfort, you can get relief by applying an ice pack. Most importantly, you should avoid sexual intercourse for three days after treatment.
Studies show that over 80% of those who receive treatment are very satisfied with the results. Some people start to notice a big difference after the first treatment session.
Take-Home Message
- MonaLisa Touch is a highly effective laser treatment for postmenopausal vaginal dryness and pain.
- If you cannot receive estrogen hormone therapy or you don't like it, this is a great option for you.
- This is a safe, non-surgical treatment that can be performed in the doctor's office in as little as 5 minutes.
- The results are very high and the side effects are minimal.
- This treatment is not usually covered by insurance, so talk to your doctor about costs before starting treatment.
- Most importantly, be sure to see your gynecologist to discuss your concerns and determine if this treatment is right for you.
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