Vaginal laser shows promise for menopause symptoms and incontinence
NCT ID NCT03681678
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Aug 18, 2026 · Updated 3 times
Summary
This study tested a fractional carbon dioxide laser treatment for women with vaginal and urinary symptoms like dryness, burning, pain during sex, and incontinence. One hundred women received three laser sessions about six weeks apart. The main goal was to see if symptoms improved, measured by a patient questionnaire four weeks after the first treatment.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- fractional carbon dioxide (fCO2) laser
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this laser treatment could offer a non-drug option to ease vaginal discomfort, pain during sex, and urinary issues in women.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early observational study with no comparison group, so results may not be widely applicable. Long-term safety and effectiveness are not yet proven.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
-
100 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Oct 2018
- Finished
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Jun 2025
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
Women meeting all of the inclusion criteria and non of the exclusion criteria may be enrolled in the study.
- Ages
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18 to 90 years
- Sex
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Female participants only
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Female 2. 18 years of age or greater and 90 years of age or less 3. One or more of the following indications for fCO2 laser treatment: 1. Genitourinary symptoms of menopause, including after natural, medical- induced or surgical menopause 2. Vaginal dryness, burning, itching or dyspareunia not related to menopause 3. Stress urinary incontinence 4. Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), defined as 4 or more in a year 5. Overactive bladder 4. Must sign the informed consent 5. Must be willing to comply with the study protocol Exclusion Criteria: 1. Contraindications to fCO2 laser treatment, such as: 1. Currently implanted synthetic pelvic mesh, sling or tape 2. Current or previous genital cancers 3. Radiation to the vaginal or colo-rectal tissue 4. Currently pregnant or less than 3 months following pregnancy 5. Undiagnosed vaginal or cervical lesions 2. Patients who have received vaginal fCO2 laser treatment within the past 12 months 3. Patients treated with vaginal estrogen within the past 3 months 4. Patients with undiagnosed vaginal bleeding 5. Active vulvar or vaginal infection, including herpes, candidiasis, etc. 6. Current urinary tract infection (UTI), confirmed by positive urine culture and patient-reported symptoms 7. Pelvic or vaginal surgery with the past 9 months 8. Pelvic organ prolapse beyond the introitus 9. Patient possesses any other characteristics that, per the investigator's judgment, deems them unsuitable (i.e. may increase the patient's risk, may affect the conduct of the study etc.) for the treatment and/or study 10. Participation in an investigational trial that used a study treatment, medication and/or biologic within 6 months or less prior to the date of the screening visit
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital
Royal Oak, Michigan, 48073, United States
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