Vaginal Health Specialist

What is vaginal rejuvenation?

Vaginal rejuvenation is the process of restoring the vaginal tissues to address issues like painful intercourse and vaginal laxity. As a woman ages, the vaginal tissues can begin to atrophy or “waste away,” causing changes like dryness or tissue thinning that can cause painful symptoms during or after intercourse or even on a day-to-day basis. Symptoms of vaginal atrophy include:

• vaginal itching
• vaginal discharge
• pain during intercourse
• pain when urinating
• increased risk of urinary tract infections

Vaginal atrophy tends to occur during menopause as the natural levels of estrogen and progesterone decline, but it can also occur at other stages of life when hormone levels are disrupted, such as following pregnancy or when breastfeeding. Vaginal rejuvenation relieves symptoms of vaginal atrophy by restoring the vaginal canal and stimulating the production of natural lubricants as well as natural collagen. MonaLisa Touch has also successfully treated patients who suffer from dryness, mild stress incontinence, vaginal tearing, chronic vaginal infections and UTIs. 

What is the MonaLisa Touch?

The MonaLisa Touch is a specially-designed laser system approved by the FDA to treat vaginal atrophy and relieve its symptoms. The system is designed specifically to treat sensitive vaginal tissues without discomfort. During treatment, a slim wand device is placed in the vagina. The device emits highly-focused bursts of laser energy which creates tiny areas of controlled damage in the vaginal wall, stimulating the production of collagen that helps rebuild atrophied tissue so the vagina becomes firmer and more resilient and natural lubrication is restored. Plus, the MonaLisa Touch helps restore the vagina’s normal pH balance to reduce the risk of infections. Laser treatment can be done externally to the vulva and surrounding tissue for issues with painful intercourse or thinning of the tissue for conditions such as leichens sclerosus. Treatment with the MonaLisa Touch can be completed in the office with no need for anesthesia, and women can resume their normal activities immediately after treatment. Tissue remodeling begins right after treatment and continues for several weeks.

Will I need more than one treatment?

While initial benefits are evident after a single treatment, we require every patient to receive three treatments in order to receive optimal results. We schedule each treatment six weeks apart. Following the three treatments, you will need a single treatment once a year. You can schedule the treatment while scheduling your annual exam.

Is the MonaLisa Touch better than using lubricants?

Vaginal lubricants can help relieve issues associated with vaginal dryness, but their effect is temporary and limited, and they’re not designed to address the underlying cause of symptoms. Plus, many creams use estrogen, which some women prefer to avoid, particularly women who have had breast cancer. Creams are also often messy, expensive and very short acting. In the long term, creams end up being more expensive than MonaLisa touch treatments.

How does Dr. Medrano treat bladder infections?

Bladder infections are extremely common and can affect women of any age. However, postmenopausal women are especially at risk, due to their decrease in estrogen and changes in the pH balance of the vagina. Antibiotics are the standard course of treatment for bladder infections. In postmenopausal women with chronic infections, topical estrogen therapy is often recommended. MonaLisa Touch has found to be more effective in restoring vaginal health and pH than estrogen creams in most of our patients.

How does Dr. Medrano treat stress incontinence?

Stress incontinence, the accidental loss of urine triggered by a sneeze, jumping, jogging, or other movement that places pressure on the bladder, affects millions of women. In most instances, it’s the result of a weakened pelvic floor that doesn’t provide enough support of the bladder. Depending on the severity the condition, a number of different treatment options can be used. Some of the most common are:

• Behavioral training and pelvic floor therapy. This is generally the first-line treatment and is highly effective for a majority of patients.

• Pessary. This is also a removable device used to support pelvic organs. It is similar in appearance and fit to a diaphragm.

• The MonaLisa Touch may also help alleviate stress incontinence, associated with vaginal atrophy.

Watch informational videos about MonaLisa Touch here.