• Clinics · Jan 2023

    Randomized Controlled Trial

    Microablative fractional radiofrequency for sexual dysfunction and vaginal Trophism: A randomized clinical trial.

    • Ayane Cristine Alves Sarmento, Fabíola Sephora Fernandes, Rafaella Rêgo Maia, Juliana Dantas de Araújo Santos Camargo, Janaina Cristiana de Oliveira Crispim, José Eleutério Júnior, and Ana Katherine Gonçalves.
    • Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, RN, Brazil; Department of Clinical Analysis and Toxicology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, Brazil.
    • Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2023 Jan 1; 78: 100293100293.

    ObjectivesTo evaluate Microablative Fractional Radiofrequency (MAFRF) as a possible option in treating vaginal atrophy.MethodsThis was a randomized, controlled clinical trial with postmenopausal women diagnosed with vaginal atrophy. The treatment consisted of three sessions of MAFRF, compared to vaginal estrogen administration and an untreated control group. Assessments occurred at baseline and 90 days. The primary endpoints were sexual function, evaluated by the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), and vaginal health, assessed by the Vaginal Health Index (VHI). Secondary outcomes included vaginal microbiota composition (Nugent score) and epithelial cell maturation (Maturation Value ‒ MV).ResultsOne hundred and twenty women (40 in each group) were included. Concerning the FSFI, both groups, MAFRF (median 4.8 [3.6‒6.0]) and vaginal estrogen (mean 4.7 ± 1.1), experienced improved sexual desire when compared to the control group (median 3.6 [2.4‒4.8]). Regarding the total score of VHI, the authors observed an improvement in the mean of the MAFRF (23.7 ± 2.0) and vaginal estrogen groups (23.5 ± 1.9) when compared to the control (14.8 ± 2.9). The Nugent score was reduced in the MAFRF and estrogen groups (p < 0.01) compared to the control group. Lastly, the MV was modified after treatment with MAFRF (p < 0.01) and vaginal estrogen (p < 0.001). No differences existed between the MAFRF and vaginal estrogen groups in the studied variables. No adverse effects were reported following the MAFRF protocol.ConclusionsRadiofrequency was comparable in efficacy to estrogen administration for treating vulvovaginal atrophy. It deserves consideration as a viable option in managing this condition.Copyright © 2023 HCFMUSP. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

      Pubmed     Copy Citation     Plaintext  

      Add institutional full text...

    Notes

     
    Knowledge, pearl, summary or comment to share?
    300 characters remaining
    help        
    You can also include formatting, links, images and footnotes in your notes
    • Simple formatting can be added to notes, such as *italics*, _underline_ or **bold**.
    • Superscript can be denoted by <sup>text</sup> and subscript <sub>text</sub>.
    • Numbered or bulleted lists can be created using either numbered lines 1. 2. 3., hyphens - or asterisks *.
    • Links can be included with: [my link to pubmed](http://pubmed.com)
    • Images can be included with: ![alt text](https://bestmedicaljournal.com/study_graph.jpg "Image Title Text")
    • For footnotes use [^1](This is a footnote.) inline.
    • Or use an inline reference [^1] to refer to a longer footnote elseweher in the document [^1]: This is a long footnote..

    hide…