Effects of local laser treatment on vulvovaginal atrophy among women with breast cancer: a prospective study with long-term follow-up

Purpose Women with breast cancer (BC) often suffer from severe vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) which ultimately leads to poor sexual and urinary quality of life. We conducted a prospective study among women with BC and VVA, in order to evaluate the long-term effect of laser therapy on VVA. Methods Women with BC and VVA were proposed to have fractional microablative CO 2 laser therapy (MonaLisaTouch®, DEKA) once per month for 3 months. Efficacy of laser therapy was assessed at baseline, 6 months and 18 months after treatment, using Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) score, Ditrovie score and vaginal pH. A pap smear was also performed and the epithelial maturation pattern was noted. Paired statistical tests were used to compare results between baseline, 6 months and 18 months. Results 46 women with BC (median age [interquartile range] 56.5 years [47.0 – 59.4]) were included between May and October 2018. PH level slightly decreased over time (mean Δ at 18 months −0.3, SD = 0.7, p = 0.02) whereas maturation pattern on pap smear did not change. Sexual quality of life was significantly improved at 6 months and 18 months (mean Δ at 6 months 8.3, SD = 6.2 ( p