Introduction
Vaginal atrophy, vaginal atrophy symptoms, hormone-sensitive cancer, heat-shock, neocollagenesis, vaginal atrophy
GENITOURINARY SYNDROME OF MENOPAUSE, ADVERSE EFFECTS, NEOVASCULARIZATION, VAGINAL ATROPHY
Vaginal atrophy or genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) is commonly found in postmenopausal women. About 50% of postmenopausal women suffer from vaginal atrophy symptoms [Vaginal atrophy can be treated by either local hormonal treatment or non-hormonal treatment. At present, vaginal estrogen therapy is a standard treatment for vaginal atrophy. However, caution must be observed in hormone-sensitive cancer survivors [Vaginal laser is a novel treatment for vaginal atrophy. Two types of laser can be used for intravaginal therapy, namely, COVaginal laser has a thermal effect on vaginal epithelium, resulting in the expression of heat-shock proteins, which stimulate growth factor activities, neovascularization, neocollagenesis, and extracellular matrix formation as well as increased vaginal thickness and elasticity. However, the thermal effect of erbium–YAG laser is less than that of COMany prospective studies reported that vaginal erbium–YAG laser can improve vaginal atrophy symptoms, and its effect is comparable to that of vaginal estrogen therapy [Vaginal lactobacilli are normal vaginal flora that can produce antimicrobial compounds, such as hydrogen peroxide and lactic acid, and compete with pathogens for vaginal adherence [A prospective study of vaginal COThis study aimed to measure the effect of vaginal erbium–YAG laser on a number of vaginal lactobacilli. We also evaluate vaginal pH, vaginal atrophy symptoms, and adverse effects after vaginal erbium–YAG laser treatment.