Laser Therapy for Treatment of Urogenital Symptoms in Women

NCT ID: NCT03681678

Last Updated: 2025-12-23

Study Results

Results available

Outcome measurements, participant flow, baseline characteristics, and adverse events have been published for this study.

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Total Enrollment

100 participants

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

2018-10-08

Study Completion Date

2025-06-10

Brief Summary

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This is a prospective observational study of women undergoing vaginal treatment with the fractional carbon dioxide (fCO2) laser for various urogenital symptoms.

Detailed Description

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Fractional carbon dioxide (fCO2) laser treatment of the vaginal tissue has been proposed as a treatment for various genitourinary symptoms, including vaginal itching, burning, dryness, dyspareunia (difficult or painful sexual intercourse), dysuria (painful or difficult urination), nocturia (waking at night to urinate), incontinence (the involuntary loss of urine), urine frequency, urine urgency, and urinary tract infection (UTI).

Case report and case series data suggest that laser treatment of the vaginal tissues is well tolerated by patients and does not pose serious risks to the patient. Several case series demonstrate improvements in vulvovaginal and urinary symptoms, and in sexual function. However, these studies are from a select few centers, are small, and are also biased in that the laser treatment is only available to patients who are able to pay for it. Additionally, most studies report only on vulvovaginal symptoms, despite increasing use of laser for urinary symptoms. Several recent editorials have called for larger studies with longer follow-up and high quality outcome measures. This study has been designed to address these needs.

This is a prospective observational study of women undergoing vaginal treatment with the fCO2 laser for a wide range of patients with vulvovaginal, sexual and/or urologic complaints. The effects of fCO2 therapy will be evaluated by various physical assessments and patient questionnaires.

Conditions

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Genitourinary System; Disorder, Female Burning Vagina Dyspareunia Irritation; Vagina Menopause Related Conditions Urinary Incontinence Urinary Bladder, Overactive Urinary Tract Infections Stress Urinary Incontinence

Keywords

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Laser Therapy

Study Design

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Observational Model Type

COHORT

Study Time Perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

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fCO2 Laser Therapy Group

Women treated with the fCO2 laser

fCO2 Laser Therapy Group

Intervention Type DEVICE

Women enrolled in the study will receive three treatments with the fractional carbon dioxide (fCO2) laser. The interval between treatments is approximately six weeks. Intra-vaginal laser treatments will be delivered at 8 points at each level of the vaginal wall.

Interventions

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fCO2 Laser Therapy Group

Women enrolled in the study will receive three treatments with the fractional carbon dioxide (fCO2) laser. The interval between treatments is approximately six weeks. Intra-vaginal laser treatments will be delivered at 8 points at each level of the vaginal wall.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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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
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

90 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Corewell Health East

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Kenneth M Peters, MD

Chief Urology

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Kenneth Peters, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital

Locations

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Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital

Royal Oak, Michigan, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Other Identifiers

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2018-142

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id