Despite significant controversy, vaginal laser therapy continues to be used for treatment of many gynecologic and pelvic conditions including vaginal atrophy, vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, urinary incontinence and pelvic pain. This commentary reviews the controversy surrounding vaginal laser therapy and summarizes the important distinction between ablative and non-ablative vaginal lasers. While much research is still needed, the article describes what is important for healthcare professionals to know before making the decision to integrate this technology into their clinical practice.
Keywords: atrophy; genitourinary syndrome of menopause; pain; photobiomodulation; vaginal laser; vaginal low-level laser therapy.