Could a laser ease painful sex for millions of women?

NCT ID NCT05597358

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: Université de Sherbrooke Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tests whether high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) can reduce pain during intercourse for women with provoked vestibulodynia, a condition causing severe pain at the vaginal opening. About 145 women with moderate to severe pain will receive either real or sham laser treatments twice a week for six weeks. Researchers will measure changes in pain, sexual function, and quality of life up to six months after treatment.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: High Intensity Laser Therapy (Nd:Yag 1064 nm)
What this could lead to: If effective, this could offer a non-drug, non-surgical option to reduce pain during intercourse for women with provoked vestibulodynia.
What could go wrong: This is a relatively small trial (145 participants) testing a device, and the sham group may also show improvement due to placebo effects. Long-term benefits are not yet known.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Pain vulvodynia

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

VULVODYNIA

Contacts and locations

Locations

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec - Université Laval

Québec, Quebec, G1V 4G2, Canada
Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke

Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1H 5N4, Canada
Exogenia

Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1L 1C6, Canada
Kinatex l'Ormière

Québec, Quebec, G2B 3K3, Canada

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