Why you should have a MonaLisa Touch therapy
MonaLisa Touch: The Cure for a Variety of Vaginal Symptoms
Even with the passage of time, many women still retain their youthful energy and enthusiasm, but vaginal changes changes can affect a woman's quality of life in unexpected ways including symptoms of the vagina, the vulva, the urinary tract, and in some cases the whole pelvic floor.
1. 100 % of women will eventually have symptoms of estrogen loss as they transition through menopause and age. In some medical conditions the symptoms are much younger.
Hormone replacement therapy works may not be the best option for many patients, as treatment outcomes can be uncertain. Now there is are a variety alternative therapy for those who are unable to undergo other treatment options for the vaginal and sexual changes that occur due to perimenopause and menopause. The one therapy that has the most published studies, has been around the longest, and has a tremendous safety profile is MonaLisa Touch which is a virtually painless carbon dioxide laser therapy delivered to the vaginal and vulvar tissues.
Vulvovaginal atrophy negatively affects a woman's quality of life, according to a presentation North American Menopause Society 2018 Annual Meeting. Other common causes of vaginal atrophy, oophorectomy, antiestrogen medications, pelvic radiation for cancer, and breastfeeding.
2. MonaLisa Touch is a medical laser that delivers controlled energy to the vaginal tissue to revitalize the cells in the vaginal mucosa (vaginal lining tissue) so that these cells make more collagen, an essential ingredient in vaginal cell health.
Evidence for the laser treatment of genitourinary syndrome of menopause, but it is increasing, said investigator Eric Sokol, MD, from the Stanford University School of Medicine in California, and many studies of all the pelvic floor treatments are underway, with the most studies from MonaLisa Touch.
About half the menopausal women in the United States report symptoms related to v
The standard therapies — vaginal estrogens, ospemifene, moisturizers, and lubricants — work for most women and should remain the first-line option when possible, but some women need alternatives.
How does it work?
MonaLisa Touch implements CO2 laser energy that is delivered via side-firing probe inserted into the vaginal canal. A two-part pulse targets surface (epithelial) tissue and deep (lamina propria) tissue to promote vaginal epithelial revitalization. It also increases the estrogen receptors in the vaginal tissues, to make your hormones and any hormones you are using work better. The MonaLisa Touch therapy increases growth factors that contribute to the restoration of vaginal health. The growth factors attract cells that then build collagen for better support, and restore the normal vaginal wall cells sugar content to bring back the youthful bacteria including Lactobacillus activity, normalizing pH, which prevents infection, and making the mucosa better hydrated. With this healing the vaginal lining thickens, to the normal premenopausal levels.Blood vessels and nerve endings are restored and according to Dr. Eric Sokol at Stanford this facilitates the diffusion of nutrients, mineral salts, ions, vitamins, antibodies, and hormones from the blood vessels to the tissue of the vaginal wall.
Where can I have this done? The MonaLisa Touch is an in-office procedure, performed at Women's Health Practice, www.womenshealthpractice.com, 217-356-3736.
The procedure is virtually painless and requires no anesthesia. Some patients may experience some discomfort the first time the probe is inserted, but the actual treatment is not painful. Many patients report that it feels like a gentle vibration.
Patients receive three treatments, spaced six weeks apart, which each take less than five minutes to perform.
Most patients feel improvement after the very first treatment, although the procedure calls for three treatments that are generally spaced over a 12-week period.
Patients should expect to come back annually for a maintenance treatment. MonaLisa Touch was first available outside the US with up to an 18-month follow-up. More recent studies indicate some women will find their treatment results will last 2-3 years. This is in contrast to other medical therapies that require daily or weekly therapy.
What are my limitations after the procedure is done? Patients should refrain from sexual activity for 2-3 days. Your doctor will determine a post-procedure regimen that is right for you.
Even young women can have this procedure as often after birth, illness, dieting, or a variety of medications vaginal dryness results that responds rapidly to the therapy.
MonaLisa Touch treatment is particularly well suited for patients who cannot, or prefer not to receive estrogen therapy, vaginal androgens, or oral Osphena therapy which is also approved for painful intercourse.
Recent medical reports indicate that women with a variety of vaginal and urinary symptoms will improve, including improvement over overactive bladder and urinary incontinence.
This can be combined with other therapies, often it takes a customized therapy plan depending on your symptoms. This could involve other vaginal treatments such as RF treatments like ThermiVa, PRP treatments, and in some cases hormonal treatments. We have custom treatments for our patients at www.womenshealthpractice.com