Could a laser ease painful sex for millions of women?

NCT ID NCT05597358

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.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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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.

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