IMR Press / CEOG / Volume 51 / Issue 2 / DOI: 10.31083/j.ceog5102040
Open Access Systematic Review
Efficacy of Fractional CO2 Laser Versus Intravaginal Estrogen for Controlling the Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) Especially Sexual Dysfunctions—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Can Luo1,2Fuping Yue2,3Ling Mei1,2Yueyue Chen1,2,*Xiaoyu Niu1,2,*
Show Less
1 Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, 610044 Chengdu, Sichuan, China
2 Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Ministry of Education, 610044 Chengdu, Sichuan, China
3 Department of Pediatrics, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, 610044 Chengdu, Sichuan, China
*Correspondence: 1072643002@qq.com (Yueyue Chen); Niuxy@scu.edu.cn (Xiaoyu Niu)
Clin. Exp. Obstet. Gynecol. 2024, 51(2), 40; https://doi.org/10.31083/j.ceog5102040
Submitted: 9 September 2023 | Revised: 14 October 2023 | Accepted: 18 October 2023 | Published: 21 February 2024
Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.
This is an open access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Abstract

Background: Fractional CO2 laser (FCL) has been gradually used in the management of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) in recent years, but the results remain uncertain. We aimed to estimate the efficacy and safety of FCL as a novel treatment for controlling the GSM, especially sexual dysfunction, compared with intravaginal estrogen. Methods: The following digital databases were searched, including PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase. All the studies were limited to randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Included literatures must be in English, without limitation about region and race. The pooled dates were analyzed by Review Manger version 5.4 (Cochrane Collaboration’s Information Management System, London, UK). Results: 3 RCTs were included, which involved 160 patients, 79 of whom received FCL treatment, 81 received intravaginal estrogen treatments. This meta-analysis results showed no statistical significance existed in improving the patient’s vaginal health index (VHI) (mean difference (MD) = 0.59; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): –1.07~2.25; p = 0.49) after FCL treatment. In terms of the female sexual function index (FSFI) total scores, we observed no improvement without statistical significance (MD = –0.13; 95% CI: –3.32~3.06; p = 0.94). Furthermore, all the FSFI domains showed no statistical significance. No serious complications were reported in all included trials. Conclusions: FCL therapy was an interesting and novel treatment for menopausal female sexual dysfunction. However, no statistical evidence existed, which recommended that FCL was superior to intravaginal estrogen. Our results will be confirmed by high-quality and multicentric RCTs in the future.

Keywords
fractional CO2 laser (FCL)
female sexual function index (FSFI)
vaginal health index (VHI)
Funding
2021YFC2009100/National Key Research and Development Program of China
Figures
Fig. 1.
Share
Back to top