The health of your vaginal tissues can change over time. Vaginal dryness can result due to differences in estrogen levels — especially during perimenopause, induced menopause, and menopause. And stress, untreated anxiety, or having a baby can also make an impact.
The most noticeable change is vaginal dryness. The hormone estrogen is responsible for keeping your vaginal tissues healthy and lubricated. When estrogen levels change, you may experience discomfort and even pain with sex.
Rickie Guida, WHNP-BC, and our care team at Alpenglow Gynecology in Littleton, Colorado, are here to help patients struggling with issues related to vaginal tissue health. In addition to other treatment options, we’re pleased to offer non-surgical MonaLisa Touch® to help restore health to your most private area.
Atrophic vaginitis, or vaginal dryness, is the most common change experienced by women. It typically becomes an issue after a decline in estrogen levels during perimenopause, menopause, induced menopause, certain illnesses or diseases, like breast cancer, or after pregnancy.
Many women are self-conscious or embarrassed discussing issues like vaginal dryness. But if you’ve noticed this change, it’s important to discuss it with your trusted provider. Rickie listens to your symptoms, checks your medical history, orders necessary lab work, and completes a physical exam to help come up with a treatment plan that meets your needs.
Before leaving you with a treatment plan, Rickie covers the different options available. Hormone replacement therapy is one option and includes creams, pellets, and plant estrogens.
Over-the-counter lubricants and vaginal moisturizers also help alleviate vaginal dryness. Use lubricants every time you have sexual intercourse, and you can apply vaginal moisturizers every 2-3 days to help keep dryness at bay.
For longer-lasting results, your Alpenglow Gynecology provider may recommend non-surgical, nonhormonal laser therapy.
Years ago, the only way providers had to help women restore vaginal tissue health was with hormone replacement therapy or painful surgery. Advances in medical science have now made it possible to achieve amazing results without hormones or surgery using laser technology.
At Alpenglow Gynecology, we’re pleased to offer MonaLisa Touch laser therapy to our patients struggling with issues related to vaginal tissue health. This minimally invasive treatment reverses atrophic vaginitis and restores your vaginal tissues.
MonaLisa Touch harnesses the power of laser energy and gently heats the tissues in your vagina. This stimulates your body’s natural healing response, promoting an increased production in collagen and elastin. The result? Your most delicate skin rebuilds itself and becomes healthy again.
While the MonaLisa Touch treatment only takes minutes, your vaginal tissue restoration continues for months. Rickie will recommend the right number of treatments for you based on your symptoms and physical examination, but most patients benefit from a series of three treatments spaced six weeks apart.
The heat from the MonaLisa Touch lasers does more than help reverse vaginal dryness. Because the treatment causes your tissues to increase collagen and elastin, your vaginal and vulvar tissues will become fuller and more elastic.
You may even notice your labia appears more youthful and improvements to your urogenital tissues, including your urethra. There are many benefits from MonaLisa Touch therapy, including:
Once your initial treatment series is complete, Rickie usually recommends annual touchups with MonaLisa Touch to ensure your vaginal tissues stay replenished and healthy.
Each MonaLisa treatment session is quick, usually taking 10 minutes or less, and pain-free. No anesthesia or recovery time are required. This means you can undergo your MonaLisa Touch session and get back to your daily activities right away.
During your session, your provider inserts a small probe into your vagina. The probe delivers CO2 laser energy pulses, which last lasts about five minutes. During treatment, you may feel slight vibrations and a warming sensation.
Side effects from MonaLisa Touch are minimal. At Alpenglow Gynecology, we evaluate your unique condition and discuss any questions or concerns you may have before your treatment begins.
Don’t suffer from issues related to declining vaginal tissue health any longer! Contact us to schedule an appointment at Alpenglow Gynecology in Littleton, Colorado, or book an appointment online now.
