Mona Lisa Touch is a new non-surgical treatment for vaginal atrophy that has been used Australia since 2013 by a select gynaecologists, urogynaecologists and menopause doctors. It counteracts the effects of vaginal atrophy with a simple 5-minute treatment that stimulates collagen formation beneath the vaginal skin, promoting proliferation of the cells and restoration of vaginal wall strength and blood supply.

The Mona Lisa Touch procedure offers significant advantages over current treatment options as it addresses the issues that cause vaginal atrophy rather than simply working on the symptoms. The Mona Lisa Touch creates longer-lasting relief than current treatments and offers a new and effective option for patient groups who were previously not suitable for existing treatments.

How MonaLisa Touch Works To Stimulate Natural Regeneration Of Vaginal Tissue and Structure…

MonaLisa Touch draws on knowledge learnt over many years in fields such as Dermatology and Aesthetic medicine to deliver an effective treatment the stimulates fibroblast cells in the skin to promote natural regeneration processes. This stimulates collagen formation underneath the vaginal skin, promotes proliferation of the cells and restoration of blood supply. In as little as 30 days after treatment there is regeneration of new tissue in the vaginal walls and the protective mucosa recovers volume, hydration and elasticity.

By restoring the natural pH balance of the vaginal mucosa, and targeting the causes of vaginal atrophy, many of the symptoms such as vaginal dryness, irritation and fissuring are greatly reduced or disappear – all with virtually no side effects or discomfort.

In addition, improvements in the structure and positioning of the vagina mean that some external surgical procedures such as labiaplasty and vaginaplasty may be avoided in mild to moderate cases.

MonaLisa Touch Is A Painless, No-Downtime Procedure

The MonaLisa Touch is a 5-minute, painless, no-downtime treatment. The only post-treatment advice is to abstain from sexual intercourse for 5 days. A course of treatment requires three, five-minute treatments spaced at monthly intervals.

Symptoms of vaginal atrophy experienced post-menopause may include. These symptoms may or may not occur simultaneously.

Vaginal dryness or itchiness

Thinning of the walls of the vagina and changes to the pH and internal environment of the vagina can result in feelings of dryness or constant itchiness.

Burning sensations and irritation of the vagina

Thinning of the walls of the vagina may also lead to burning sensations or irritation of vagina. In some cases bleeding may occur.

Urinary urgency and incontinence

Feelings of a constantly feeling a need to go to the toilet, or slight ‘leakage’ such as when you cough or sneeze.

Fissuring of the opening of the vagina

Vaginal fissures are usually seen as small cracks or tears on the vagina. They may be caused by a number of related causes and exacerbated by sexual intercourse.

Vaginal laxity

Thinning of the Vaginal walls can include declines in the structural strength of the vagina and lead to feelings of vaginal laxity.

Pain during Sexual intercourse (Dyspareunia)

The thinning of the walls of the vagina, loss of lubrication, changes to the structure of vagina and other factors can contribute to pain during sex.

Natural menopause is the cessation of menstruation resulting from the loss of ovarian follicular activity and is diagnosed after 12 months of absence of a menstrual period (amenorrhœa). Premature or early menopause occurs before the age of 40 (source – World Health Organisation). It can be both physiological and induced and may contribute to a higher risk of osteoporosis, neurodegenerative diseases and cardiovascular problems. The International Menopause Society guidelines recommend HRT as the best preventive treatment (whether with estrogens alone, for women who have undergone hysterectomy, or combined estrogen and progesterone, or progestins to protect the endometrium in patients with a uterus).

Induced menopause

Induced menopause can be determined by surgical removal of both ovaries (with or without hysterectomy) or by the suppression of ovarian function as a side effect of cancer treaments, such as chemotherapy, radiation, tamoxifen (source – World Health Organisation). Around 60% of women who undergo treatment for breast cancer can develop vaginal atrophy.

Premenopause

Premenopause is the period preceding menopause up to the first year after the last mentrual period (source – World Health Organisation). Postmenopause is the period that follows the last menstrual period, regardless of the type of menopause (source – World Health Organisation). To this list established and approved by the WHO in 1990, the International Menopause Society (IMS) has added, in 1999, the definition of climacteric, as a transition from the reproductive phase to the nonreproductive state.

HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy)

HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) is the prescription of estrogens alone (for hysterectomised women) or combined estrogen and progesterone for postmenopausal patients to fight the symptoms related to urogenital atrophy and, more importantly, the negative effects of sudden estrogen deficiency on the cardiovascular, skeletal and autonomic nervous systems.

Specifically, the estrogen alone therapy is called Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT). 10–25% of women using systemic hormonal therapy continue to suffer from symptoms related to urogenital atrophy. This, in addition to possible concerns over the long term effect of taking hormones, is why systemic therapy is seldom prescribed to women who suffer only from vaginal symptoms.

Topical Vaginal or transdermal estrogen therapy

Topical therapy is a commonly prescribed treatment for vaginal atrophy which requires the patient to apply a cream containing hormones directly into the vagina. Estrogens are absorbed by the vaginal walls and enter into the circulation, except in the event of preparations designed to prevent their absorption. Potential adverse effects include breast, perineal pain and uterine bleeding (which should be reported immediately to your doctor). The treatment is contraindicated in some cases, such as in presence of vaginal/uterine bleeding of unknown nature or in women with endometrial cancer.

Vaginal Lubricants and moisturisers

In the event that estrogen preparations are either not indicated or not effective – vaginal lubricants and moisturising preparations, applied locally and consistently, can attenuate symptoms related to vaginal dryness. It is a mixture of soluble aqueous-based protective and restorative agents and nonhormonal substances, which have a beneficial effect on the vaginal epitelium. Nonhormonal therapies are especially indicated in women against hormonal therapies or in subjects at risk due to previous cancers sensitive to hormones.

WHAT ARE THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL EFFECTS OF VAGINAL ATROPHY

The symptoms of vaginal atrophy may or may not occur simultaneously and may be felt as:

• Vaginal dryness or itchiness,
• Burning sensations and irritation of the vagina,
• Fissuring of the opening of the vagina,
• Pain during sexual intercourse (Dyspareunia)
• Vaginal pain

The symptoms of vaginal atrophy can have both a physical and emotional impact on the patient, including affecting their intimate relationships.

PREVALENCE OF VAGINAL ATROPHY

In excess of 40 per cent of menopausal and post-menopausal women are affected by vaginal atrophy will experience some or all of the symptoms listed above.

In addition, younger women who have used the Pill for prolonged periods, breast-feeding mothers and women who experienced traumatic delivery and severe perineal repair and scarring may also experience these symptoms.

Around 60 per cent of breast cancer sufferers can also be affected by vaginal atrophy and unfortunately Hormone Replacement Therapy is not suitable for almost all of these patients meaning that there is no effective treatment for their symptoms.

EXISTING TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR VAGINAL ATROPHY

Existing treatments involve making lifestyle changes to improve vulval care and using therapeutic creams such as a non-scented barrier cream or topical Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT – vaginal oestrogen cream) if not contraindicated.

The effectiveness of these current treatments is highly dependent on the willingness of the patient to adhere to treatment protocols. In addition, the effects of existing treatments are short-term in nature and the benefits are no longer felt if the patient discontinues use.

In comparison, the Mona Lisa Touch procedure addresses a number of the issues causing vaginal atrophy, which means the effects of treatment are long lasting and will be felt independent of any actions performed by the patient.

The Mona Lisa Touch treatment is of particular benefit for patients with a past history, or strong family history of breast cancer who may have previously be advised against using HRT and until now have had no effective treatment for their symptoms of vaginal atrophy.