Non-ablative Diode Laser Therapy for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: A Prospective Study on Efficacy, Safety, and Quality of Life and Sexuality Impact (GSMLASER)

July 13, 2024 updated by: Stefano Angioni, University of Cagliari

The goal of this observational study is to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and impact on quality of life and sexuality of non-ablative dual-wavelength diode laser treatments in managing Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) in sexually active post-menopausal women who cannot use or have not benefited from local estrogen-based therapies. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does non-ablative dual-wavelength diode laser therapy improve vaginal dryness, burning sensation, and dyspareunia in post-menopausal women? What is the impact of this therapy on the vaginal health index and sexual function? Researchers will compare the laser-treated group to their baseline measurements to see if non-ablative dual-wavelength diode laser therapy effectively treats GSM.

Participants will:

Undergo three monthly sessions of dual-wavelength diode laser therapy. Participate in follow-up evaluations at three and six months post-treatment. Complete self-assessments of GSM symptoms and questionnaires evaluating sexual function and quality of life at each follow-up.

This study aims to provide preliminary evidence that non-ablative dual-wavelength diode laser therapy is a safe and effective non-hormonal treatment for GSM, addressing a gap in existing treatments for women who cannot use or have not benefited from hormonal therapies.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
50

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Italy
    • CA
      • Cagliari, CA, Italy, 09042
        • Recruiting
        • Division of Gynecology and Obstetrics Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consists of post-menopausal women aged 45-73 years who are experiencing symptoms of Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM). These women are sexually active and have experienced physiological amenorrhea for more than 12 months. The participants have not used lubricants or hormonal therapy in the previous six months. The study targets those who cannot use or have not benefited from local estrogen-based therapies.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Post-menopausal women aged 45-73 years.
  • Sexually active.
  • Experiencing physiological amenorrhea for more than 12 months.
  • Exhibiting at least one symptom of Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM).
  • Not using lubricants or hormonal therapy in the previous 6 months.
  • Able to provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Untreated uterine or vulvovaginal cancers.
  • Pacemaker or other implanted electrode carriers.
  • Severe multi-organ or neurological diseases.
  • Active sexually transmitted infections.
  • Moderate to severe uterine prolapse.
  • Active urinary tract infections.
  • Acute or chronic dermatological conditions in the vulvar or vaginal area.
  • Active genital herpes.
  • Active high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
  • Ischemic tissues, unhealed wounds, sores, or undiagnosed mucosal or epithelial alterations.
  • Recent unhealed invasive or ablative surgeries.
  • Bleeding disorders or anticoagulant therapy.
  • Immunodeficiencies.
  • Uncontrolled diabetes.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Laser Therapy Group
Participants will receive non-ablative dual-wavelength diode laser therapy for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM). The intervention includes three monthly sessions using the Leonardo® Diode laser (Biolitec®) with wavelengths of 980 nm and 1470 nm. Each session lasts about 20 minutes and involves 8 pulses per centimeter along the vaginal canal. Local lidocaine gel is used as an anesthetic. Evaluations occur at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months post-treatment.
Device: Leonardo® Diode laser
The intervention involves non-ablative dual-wavelength diode laser therapy for treating Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM). This includes three monthly sessions of the Leonardo® Diode laser (Biolitec®), with wavelengths of 980 nm and 1470 nm, delivering 8 pulses per centimeter along the vaginal canal, using local lidocaine gel as an anesthetic. Evaluations are conducted at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months post-treatment.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Vaginal Dryness
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months after the final laser treatment
Measurement of the change in vaginal dryness scores using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The Visual Analog Scale ranges from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating worse vaginal dryness.
Baseline, 3 months, 6 months after the final laser treatment
Change in Burning Sensation
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, and 6 months after the final laser treatment
Measurement of the change in burning sensation scores using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The Visual Analog Scale ranges from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating worse burning sensation.
Baseline, 3 months, and 6 months after the final laser treatment
Change in Pain During Intercourse (Dyspareunia)
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, and 6 months after the final laser treatment
Measurement of the change in pain during intercourse scores using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The Visual Analog Scale ranges from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating worse pain during intercourse.
Baseline, 3 months, and 6 months after the final laser treatment
Change in Vaginal Health Index Score (VHIS)
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, and 6 months after the final laser treatment
Measurement of the change in the Vaginal Health Index Score (VHIS), which examines five aspects of vaginal health: elasticity, fluid volume, pH, epithelial integrity, and moisture. Each component is rated on a scale from 1 (indicating severe vaginal atrophy) to 5 (indicating no clinical signs of vaginal atrophy), with a total score below 15 confirming vaginal atrophy. Higher scores indicate better vaginal health.
Baseline, 3 months, and 6 months after the final laser treatment
Change in Sexual Function
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, and 6 months after the final laser treatment
Measurement of the change in sexual function scores using the Female Sexual Function Index-6 (FSFI-6). The FSFI-6 is a six-item version of the Female Sexual Function Index-19 (FSFI-19) and includes one item from each original domain: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. Responses range from 0 (no sexual activity) to 5 (optimal function), with higher scores indicating better sexual function. An FSFI-6 score of 19.0 or less indicates sexual dysfunction.
Baseline, 3 months, and 6 months after the final laser treatment
Change in Sexual Quality of Life
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, and 6 months after the final laser treatment
Measurement of the change in scores on the Sexual Quality of Life-Female (SQOL-F) questionnaire. The SQOL-F questionnaire consists of 18 items that assess sexual self-esteem, emotional well-being, and relationship issues. Scores range from 18 to 108, with higher scores indicating better sexual quality of life.
Baseline, 3 months, and 6 months after the final laser treatment
Change in Sexual Function
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, and 6 months after the final laser treatment
Measurement of the change in sexual function scores using the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12). The PISQ-12 is a 12-item questionnaire used to evaluate sexual function in patients suffering from urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse. It explores three domains: behavioral-emotive, physical, and partner-related, scored on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 (always) to 4 (never), with reverse scoring for the first four items. Higher scores indicate better sexual function.
Baseline, 3 months, and 6 months after the final laser treatment

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Cagliari

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Stefano Angioni, University of Cagliari

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

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Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
September 1, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 1, 2024

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
January 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
July 5, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 13, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
July 16, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
July 16, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 13, 2024

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
July 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • NP/2022/4057

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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