The impact of vaginal laser treatment for genitourinary syndrome of menopause in breast cancer survivors : a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction

Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) is caused by hypo-estrogenism, resulting in vaginal dryness, pain, dyspareunia, and urinary tract infection. It is more severe and common in breast cancer (BC) survivors owing to the severity of induced menopause following treatment (ie, chemotherapy, GnRH agonists/anti-estrogen therapy). It has a detrimental effect on quality of life. The gold standard therapy is topical estrogen, which is highly effective; however, it is contraindicated in patients with BC owing to concerns with recurrence. Recently, vaginal laser therapy has been used to restore vaginal mucosal thickness, lubrication, and elasticity with good effect in menopausal women with GSM. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of vaginal laser therapy on BC-associated GSM.

Materials and Methods

This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Results

A total of 48 papers were identified, revealing 10 observational studies of GSM symptoms before and after vaginal laser therapy with no randomized trials. Vaginal laser was effective in treating GSM in BC survivors with improvement in the Vaginal Health Index and the Visual Analogue Scale score for dyspareunia and vaginal dryness, sexual function, and overall satisfaction in the short term with minimal adverse events.

Conclusion

Vaginal laser may be effective in treating GSM in BC survivors in the short term, but there are no long-term data on safety and efficacy. More research is needed looking at longer term follow-up, health economic costs, and sub-group analysis as well as the complex interplay between GSM and the other negative impacts of BC therapy on intimate relationships.