More Evidence Supports Efficacy of Microablative Fractionated CO₂ Laser Therapy for Vaginal Atrophy

Vulvovaginal atrophy, also termed genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), is commonly managed with vaginal moisturizers and lubricants or estrogen. Microablative fractionated CO₂ laser therapy has been suggested when these remedies fail or when estrogen is not appropriate. Although several studies have indicated that fractionated CO₂ laser is effective, none had compared the efficacy of laser with that of sham. Accordingly, 88 postmenopausal women (mean age, 60.8) with moderate-to-severe symptoms of vaginal atrophy (i.e., burning, dryness, or dyspareunia) were randomized to receive outpatient vaginal CO₂ laser treatments or the sham procedure (which mimicked use of the laser) 3 times at 4-week intervals. Participants and evaluators were …