Efficacy of CO2 laser treatment in postmenopausal women with vulvovaginal atrophy: A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the efficacy of CO2  laser treatment in postmenopausal women with vulvovaginal atrophy.

METHOD: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science were searched to June 9, 2020. Prospective studies on the efficacy of CO2  laser treatment were included. Two researchers independently reviewed articles and extracted data. Heterogeneity test was conducted for each outcome indicator. Sensitivity analysis was performed in all models.

RESULTS

Twelve articles including 459 participants were enrolled. Compared with baseline, vaginal health indeices (VHIs) were significantly higher at the 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow ups (P < 0.001). For VVA severity, the visual analog scale scores for vaginal dryness at 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups (P < 0.050), vaginal burning, itching, and dysuria at 1-month follow up (P < 0.001), and dyspareunia at 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups (P < 0.001) were all significantly lower. For FSFI, total scores at 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow ups (P < 0.001), and the scores in desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain at 1-month follow up (P < 0.050) were all significantly higher. For quality of life, the PCS12 and MCS12 scores were all significantly higher (P < 0.050) at the 1-month follow up.

CONCLUSION

CO2  laser treatment may be effective for postmenopausal women with VVA symptoms in improving quality of life and sexual function.