Active life position and desire to keep up with the times – these are the hallmarks of modern women. The use of new methods of cosmetology and medicine allows women to be young, healthy and beautiful. For quite a long time, laser technologies have been successfully used in cosmetology, which today have also found their application in aesthetic gynecology. Alexandra Krasovskaya, a gynecologist-endocrinologist, specialist in aesthetic gynecology, spoke about her experience in using laser technologies to solve age-related problems of the female intimate zone especially for estet-portal.com.
What age-related problems of the female intimate area do you most often encounter in your practice?
The most common age-related problem of the female intimate area is vaginal relaxation syndrome, which is characterized by loss of tone and elasticity of the vaginal walls, as well as an increase in its volume. The second actual problem – this is a genito-urinary menopausal syndrome, which is characterized by the development of atrophic changes in the vaginal mucosa.
Fortunately, today we can solve the problems of the female intimate area with the help of laser technology.
This procedure is possible if the cytology smear and microscopy of urogenital secretions are normal.
Why do women develop vaginal relaxation syndrome as they age?
Vaginal relaxation syndrome is indeed quite common and occurs in women of all age groups. A natural increase in the volume of the vagina occurs in women as a result of childbirth. The restoration of the original volume of the vagina after childbirth does not occur, and the restoration of the elasticity and elasticity of the walls is observed only after 8-10 weeks. Pathological delivery with the use of obstetric forceps and the imposition of a vacuum extractor, childbirth with a large fetus can also contribute to the development of vaginal relaxation syndrome.
On the basis of what data is the diagnosis of "vaginal relaxation syndrome" established?
Quite often, this condition is not combined with prolapse of the walls of the vagina and, therefore, is not detected by a gynecologist during examination. The diagnosis is made on the basis of a woman's complaints about a violation of the quality of sexual life, the impossibility or difficulty in achieving orgasm, which is directly related to a decrease in friction during intercourse. A decrease in satisfaction is also observed in the partner. Problems in the intimate life of a sexually active couple, unfortunately, are not widely discussed. And if the doctor at the appointment does not ask a direct question about the quality of the patient's sexual life, then, most likely, the patient herself will not consider it necessary to talk about it.
How do atrophic changes in the vagina appear?
Atrophic changes in the vagina or vulvovaginal atrophy develops in postmenopausal women due to a decrease in the level of female sex hormones – estrogen. The International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health has proposed replacing the term "vulvovaginal atrophy" with to «genito-urinary menopausal syndrome». It is this term that is now widely used in the world literature to group symptoms caused by a decrease in estrogen levels.
These include:
• genital symptoms – dryness, burning, redness in the vagina;
• sexual symptoms – discomfort and pain during intercourse, lack of natural lubrication, decreased satisfaction;
• urinary symptoms – stress urinary incontinence, recurrent urinary tract infections.
The appearance of such symptoms signals the development of genito-urinary menopausal syndrome.
Why are the tissues of the female intimate area so sensitive to the effects of estrogens?
The vagina, urethra, bladder and lower third of the ureters are of the same embryonic origin. This explains the presence of receptors for estrogens, progesterone and androgens both in the mucous membrane and choroid plexuses of the vagina, and in the tissues of the bladder, urethra, as well as in the muscles and ligamentous apparatus of the small pelvis. Consequently, the aging processes of the urogenital tract develop in two directions: the development of atrophic vaginitis and the development of atrophic cystourethritis with or without symptoms of impaired urinary control. Against the background of atrophy, the microbiocenosis of the vagina changes, due to hormonal changes, the blood supply to the vagina decreases, the pH changes (the environment changes from acidic to alkaline), which makes it possible to develop pathogenic or opportunistic microflora and prevents the reproduction of lactobacilli, which are normal and "correct"; vaginal inhabitants. All this leads to the development of bacterial vaginosis.
What do patients with genito-urinary menopausal syndrome and vaginal relaxation syndrome complain about?
In these pathological conditions, the patient complains of a weakening of the vaginal tone, the inability to contract the muscles of the perineum, the ingress of air and water into the vagina, the development of bacterial colpitis as a result of a violation of the microflora in the vagina, urinary incontinence, dyspareunia (pain during intercourse), violation sexual satisfaction and vaginal dryness.
Doctors should remember that all these complaints are too intimate for a woman, sometimes so much so that a woman will not consider it appropriate, correct and necessary to present them.
Therefore, the doctor must ask the right questions to understand if the patient has such problems in the intimate area. Mostly women believe that all this – absolutely normal changes that occur as a result of childbirth. And most importantly, they do not even suspect that this situation can somehow be influenced and improve their condition!
How does the use of laser technology help in solving such problems of the female intimate area?
The laser allows the transmission of special thermal packet pulses to the vaginal mucosa and the collagen-rich parietal fascia of the pelvis. As a result of this action, the intermolecular cross-links of the collagen triple helix are reduced, which leads to an instantaneous contraction of the fibers by two thirds of their length compared to the state before the procedure. The collagen fibers become shorter and thicker, and the laser-treated tissue contracts and shrinks. In addition, the process of neocollagenesis, that is, the formation of new collagen, is launched. If we talk about vaginal atrophy, it is worth mentioning the Van't Hoff-Argennius Law, which states that heating the tissue by 10°; responds with a 200% increase in metabolism. The use of laser technologies makes it possible to achieve heating of the walls of the vagina up to & nbsp; 60°C - 63°C.
What are the benefits of using laser technology to solve problems in the female intimate area?There are many advantages to using laser technology specifically to solve such problems. First of all, these are minimally invasive technologies, & nbsp; without ablation and bleeding, so such a quick and simple procedure can be performed on an outpatient basis. In addition, the use of laser technologies does not require anesthesia, special preparation and postoperative care, as well as consumables. Considering all these advantages, I can safely recommend the use of laser technologies for the treatment of such problems of the female intimate area as vaginal relaxation syndrome and genito-urinary menopausal syndrome. Girls, be healthy and don't miss the opportunity to enjoy every moment of your life!
See also:
Combined oral contraceptives: current recommendations for specialists
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