Wednesday Women's Health in the News: Most Frequently Asked Questions On MonaLisa Touch Vaginal Therapy

MonaLisa Touch: The Issue of Vaginal Symptoms

Even with the passage of time, many women still retain their youthful energy and enthusiasm, but post-menopausal changes can affect a woman's quality of life in unexpected ways. Hormone replacement therapy may not be the best option for many patients, as treatment outcomes can be uncertain. Now there is an alternative therapy for those who are unable to undergo other treatment options for the vaginal and sexual changes that occur due to perimenopause and menopause.

What is the MonaLisa Touch?

MonaLisa Touch is a medical laser that delivers controlled energy to the vaginal tissue to revitalize the cells in the vaginal mucosa (vaginal tissue) so that these cells make more collagen, an essential ingredient in vaginal cell health.

How does it work?

MonaLisa Touch implements CO2 laser energy that is delivered via side-firing probe inserted into the vaginal canal. A two-part pulse targets surface (epithelial) tissue and deep (lamina propria) tissue to promote vaginal mucosal revitalization.

Where can I have this done? The MonaLisa Touch is an in-office procedure, performed at Women's Health Practice, www.womenshealthpractice.com, 217-356-3736.

Does the procedure hurt? The procedure is virtually painless and requires no anesthesia. Some patients may experience some discomfort the first time the probe is inserted, but the actual treatment is not painful. Many patients report that it feels like a gentle vibration.

How long does it take? Patients receive three treatments, spaced six weeks apart, which each take less than five minutes to perform.

When will I see results? Most patients feel improvement after the very first treatment, although the procedure calls for three treatments that are generally spaced over a 12-week period.

How long do the results last? Patients should expect to come back annually for a maintenance treatment. MonaLisa Touch was first available outside the US with up to an 18-month follow-up. More recent studies indicate some women will find their treatment results will last 2-3 years. This is in contrast to other medical therapies that require daily or weekly therapy.

What are my limitations after the procedure is done? Patients should refrain from sexual activity for 2-3 days. Your doctor will determine a post-procedure regimen that is right for you.

Is this procedure safe for women with breast cancer?

Yes, MonaLisa Touch treatment is particularly well suited for patients who cannot, or prefer not to receive estrogen therapy or oral Osphena therapy which is approved for painful intercourse.

Does this procedure have benefits on urinary symptoms, painful ?

Yes, recent medical reports indicate that women with a variety of vaginal and urinary symptoms will improve, including improvement over overactive bladder and urinary incontinence.

Will the procedure be covered by insurance?

No processing medical codes exist for this procedure.

Endocervial polyps

2 cm Endometrial Polyp After Removal Polyps in the cervix are almost never cancerous, but can bleed or get infected and should be removed. The are not directly related to an endometrial or uterine polyp (which is a precancerous condition), but your gyno may want to make sure these two conditions do not co-exist.

Passing Your Uterine Lining, Menstrual Period Norms

Decidual Cast Periods can be fairly easy, passing some tissue at a time, or off can come the whole lining in one piece called a decidual cast. Generally the lining of the uterus is only 6-8 mm thick at the time of the menstrual period, and it is shed gradually, a few cells at a time. The decidual cast is when the entire lining passes spontaneously. It's not uncommon, but it usually both uncomfortable, and alarming to some. But us women are designed to have some sort of periods Or Not? We have to pass tissue each month. Or Not? Are they good for us? Or Not? Do we want them? Or Not? Is this something that is individual? Or Not? It's a complex topic that I will be discussing a lot over my time in this blog. So lets start with basics: How much do we bleed and what are we loosing, and just what was this that the patient passed? And another basic: track your periods, and the Women's Health Practice site http://www.womenshealthpractice.com/media/pdf/menstrual_chart.pdf you...

Post-Endometrial Ablation Syndrome

If you have had an endometrial ablation and have developed symptoms of pelvic pain you might have post endometrial ablation syndrome. What is post-endometrial ablation syndrome? It is a constellation of symptoms due to entrapped blood or tissue within a uterus that has previously undergone an endometrial ablation. We are able to diagnose this at Women's Health Practic e but occasionally other conditions are causing similar symptoms. Other complications of endometrial ablation include pregnancy, risks from pre-existing conditions such as a polyp or fibroid, an infection of the uterus, or a pregnancy. If you have had a tubal ligation then it is possible that the condition could be post-ablation tubal sterilization syndrome. The ablation procedure is designed to destroy all lining tissue, but in fact there is no way to confirm the completeness of the ablation. It is thought that either residual or regrowth of the tissue is producing the symptoms of post-endometrial ablation syndrom...

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