Emerging Use of Vaginal Laser to Treat Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause for Breast Cancer Survivors: A Review

Nida Jugulytė; Guoda Žukienė; Daiva Bartkevičienė

doi:10.3390/medicina59010132

Emerging Use of Vaginal Laser to Treat Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause for Breast Cancer Survivors: A Review

Medicina (Kaunas). 2023 Jan 9;59(1):132. doi: 10.3390/medicina59010132.

Authors

Nida Jugulytė¹, Guoda Žukienė², Daiva Bartkevičienė²

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, LT-03101 Vilnius, Lithuania.
² Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Vilnius University, LT-03101 Vilnius, Lithuania.

Abstract

Breast cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy and endocrine therapy, can cause earlier and more sudden menopausal symptoms. Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) is one of the most bothersome side effects of breast cancer treatment, resulting in sexual dysfunction and impaired quality of life. GSM includes genital, urinary, and sexual symptoms. However, alleviating symptoms of GSM for breast cancer survivors may be challenging due to ineffectiveness, contraindications, and low adherence to treatment. The most recent data show the feasibility and safety of vaginal laser to treat GSM for breast cancer survivors. This narrative review provides the aspects of GSM in breast cancer patients, putting the focus on the efficacy and safety of vaginal laser therapy.

Keywords: breast cancer survivor; genitourinary syndrome of menopause; vaginal laser; vulvovaginal atrophy.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Breast Neoplasms* / complications
Cancer Survivors*
Female
Female Urogenital Diseases* / etiology
Humans
Lasers, Solid-State* / therapeutic use
Menopause
Quality of Life
Syndrome

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.