In 2008, two Italian doctors began using a novel carbon dioxide micro-ablative laser therapy to treat certain vaginal and vulvar disorders. This same technology was approved by the FDA in 2014 for general use as a medical laser in the United States. Currently, physicians are seeking to have it granted FDA approval as an official treatment option for specific vaginal and vulvar disorders, such as genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) and vulvar lichen sclerosus. Data submitted for the FDA approval process indicate this technology shows promise in treating the aforementioned conditions and could therefore emerge as a new therapeutic option in the near future.

Maria Sophocles, MD, FACOG
Medical Director: Women’s Healthcare of Princeton
Princeton, NJ

Reference(s):

Sokol ER, Karram MM. An assessment of the safety and efficacy of a fractional CO2 laser system for the treatment of vulvovaginal atrophy. Menopause. 2016;23(10):1102-1107.