Vaginal dryness is a common issue. This is especially true among women who’ve reached menopause, as the most common cause of dryness is low estrogen levels.
Estrogen is a hormone that fluctuates during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause. Contraceptive pills, antidepressants, and cancer treatments can also negatively impact your hormone levels, causing poor elasticity and lubrication in the vaginal tissues.
Some women may be good candidates for hormone replacement therapy (HRT). However, this treatment involves taking estrogen for prolonged periods, which may cause certain side effects.
Other women — particularly those who have a history of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, blood clotting disorders, or heart issues — aren’t good candidates for HRT.
Below, we asked Dr. Pompeyo Chavez, our board-certified physician and founder at Soulage Wellness and Aesthetic Center in Bastrop, Texas, to explain how you can reduce vaginal dryness without the use of hormones or surgical procedures.
Laser light can stimulate collagen and elastin production in vaginal tissue. In addition, lasers can also improve vascularization, which means they improve blood flow to the vaginal tissues.
Studies indicate that lasers are just as effective at treating vaginal dryness as estrogen treatments except they come without the risks associated with taking synthetic hormones. Dr. Chavez recommends the JulietⓇ Feminine Laser to rejuvenate your vagina.
Some women may benefit from both HRT and laser treatments. Dr. Chavez offers Biote hormone replacement therapy, which involves the use of hormones sourced from plants that closely mimic the hormones produced by the human body.
During the treatment, you lie down as you do during a routine pelvic exam. Dr. Chavez applies a numbing cream to reduce your discomfort, and he uses a laser wand to deliver light energy inside your vaginal canal.
The treatment lasts about 5 minutes and doesn’t come with any downtime. For optimal results, Dr. Chavez may recommend several sessions spaced two weeks apart.
Once your symptoms are under control, you can opt for an annual maintenance treatment.
Estimates indicate that about 17% of women between the ages of 17 and 50 experience vaginal dryness severe enough to cause painful intercourse. Aside from increasing lubrication, lasers can also help women with incontinence and poor elasticity of the vaginal tissue.
Are you experiencing vaginal dryness and other symptoms associated with low estrogen levels? Are you looking for a nonsurgical and drug-free solution? If so, contact us to schedule an appointment at Soulage Wellness and Aesthetic Center in Bastrop, Texas.
