Radiofrequency treatment aids vaginal health

A non-hormonal radiofrequency treatment improved sexual function and vaginal health in postmenopausal women, according to results from a small randomised study.

The study assessed nonablative capacitive-resistive monopolar radiofrequency, an energy-based treatment that delivers controlled heat to vaginal tissue to improve blood flow and tissue health. It was tested as a potential treatment for genitourinary syndrome of menopause, a condition linked to reduced oestrogen that can cause dryness, irritation and pain during sex.

In the trial, 62 women with genitourinary syndrome of menopause were randomly assigned to receive either six weekly sessions of the active treatment, involving 32 women, or a sham procedure involving 30 women.

Women who received the radiofrequency treatment recorded larger improvements in sexual function, measured using the Female Sexual Function Index, than those in the sham group, both immediately after treatment and at a 12-week follow-up. Average scores increased by 5.86 points after treatment compared with 1.33 in the control group, and by 4.41 points at follow-up, while scores in the sham group declined slightly.

Vaginal health scores showed a similar pattern, with improvements of 4.75 points after treatment and 6.90 points at follow-up, compared with little or no change among women who received the sham procedure.

The research was carried out by scientists at the University of Castilla-La Mancha in Toledo, Spain. They reported no adverse events during the study and found no significant changes in participants’ oestrogen levels.

Stephanie Faubion, medical director for The Menopause Society, said: “This small study provides preliminary evidence on the effectiveness of nonablative radiofrequency on vaginal health and sexual function in postmenopausal women. Additional studies in larger and more diverse cohorts with multidimensional outcome assessments and longer-term follow-up are needed to confirm clinical applicability.”