MonaLisa Touch is a non-surgical, non-hormonal laser treatment for the symptoms of pain, burning and irritation caused by vaginal atrophy.
The MonaLisa Touch laser treatment is a quick, simple in-room procedure to relieve the symptoms of dryness, burning and pain caused by decreased oestrogen level, typically because of menopause. This treatment is also ideal for women who have induced menopause as a result of cancer treatments and in particular, breast cancer and cannot safely be prescribed oestrogen due to the risk of cancer progression or recurrence.
During treatment, a vaginal probe is used to deliver the laser beam in a highly regulated and specific dose on the vaginal wall. This stimulates an increase in blood supply to the area, creating new cell growth. The end result is a hydrated, pH balanced, pain-free vagina.
MonaLisa Touch is a walk-in, walk-out procedure which does not require any needles, anaesthesia or down-time.
For many women, vaginal atrophy can greatly affect their quality of life. Rarely spoken about, symptoms such as pain during intercourse, itching, burning, constant discomfort or recurrent urinary tract infections are left untreated. This is due to feelings of embarrassment leading to a reluctance to seek advice, and acceptance that it’s simply ‘part of menopause’.
What is Vaginal Atrophy?
Many women haven’t heard of vaginal atrophy, but would be familiar with the symptoms. What women fail to recognise is that vaginal atrophy is a chronic, progressive condition that requires treatment of the underlying cause.
Oestrogens are hormones produced by the ovaries and are important for sexual and reproductive development in women. As you age or enter menopause, oestrogen levels naturally decrease. Less oestrogen makes your vaginal tissues thinner, drier, less elastic and more fragile.
This end of oestrogen production by the ovaries creates a range of changes to a woman’s body. Menopause and even pre-menopause, whether natural or induced, is linked to the onset of many symptoms including;
- Vaginal dryness
- Pain during sex (dyspareunia)
- Vaginal itching, burning
- Changes in vaginal discharge & odour
- Recurrent cystitis
During menopause the fibres in the vagina reduce their production of collagen required to maintain and preserve the connective tissue hydration. This leads to the vaginal mucosa becoming dry and less nourished. Due to the fragile state, the vagina becomes prone to infection as pH levels are higher and create a vaginal ecosystem which can lead to recurrent vaginitis and dyspareunia. Studies show that symptoms caused by vaginal atrophy are present in 50% of post-menopausal women.
Symptoms range from mild discomfort to extremely pain and can affect a women’s overall well-being and confidence. Intimacy and a satisfying sex life can become a thing of the past, and this can lead to relationships becoming strained.
Without treatment, the narrowing of the vaginal opening and loss of elasticity are progressive and may lead to worsening dyspareunia, sexual dysfunction and vaginal constriction.
Until recently, treatments have been limited to topical creams and hormone replacement therapy, which aren’t always suitable. Now there’s MonaLisa Touch.
Read More: How does the MonaLisa Touch treatment work?
Ask your GP for a referral to Dr Michael Flynn - print this Referral Request and hand it to your GP.