Can Plasma Sublimation performed by using Plexr® be an effective method to treat Vulvar and Vaginal Atrophy?
What is VVA ?
VVA, Vulvar and Vaginal Atrophy, is a common and chronic disease, as well as progressive with age.
The most common symptoms include dryness, burning, itching, vaginal pain and related dyspareunia.
Due to the lack of estrogen, a thinning of the vaginal mucosa occurs, the mucous membrane is less hydrated and leads to discomfort during sexual intercourse.
These symptoms affect sexual satisfaction of most of the women suffering from this disease, and most of them also reduced libido and overall quality of life.
Common treatments and therapies
Currently, therapeutic approaches in the treatment of vaginal mucosal atrophy include local therapies or hormone replacement therapy.
Although general estrogen therapy seems to be the most effective treatment for moderate and severe symptoms, there is evidence that this therapy can lead to a series of possible disadvantages and serious side effects.
As a matter of fact, hormone replacement therapy involves an increased risk of stroke, blood clots, heart attack, not mentioning an increased risk of cancer of the endometrium or breast and ovaries and an increased chance of gallbladder/gallstone problems.
This are some of the most important reasons why it is fundamental to carry out further research to demonstrate the effectiveness of non-pharmacological treatments and safety for patients when treating VVA.
Can Plexr® be a valid, alternative solution to hormone replacement therapy?
Dr. Agnieszka Nalewczynska et al. carried out a study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Plexr® in the treatment of vulvar and vaginal atrophy. The study, published on January 2019, demonstrated that treatment with Plexr® can improve genito-genital symptoms and clinical symptoms. In fact the medical device is able to restore the pH of the vaginal mucosa by releasing glycogen and acid mucins from epithelium, as a result of the action of the plasma generated by Plexr®.
What about statistics?
The study evaluated the results by consulting 3 different scales: -VAS ( Visual Analogic Score) -VHI (Vaginal Health Index) -5-point likert procedure (Satisfaction rate) Statistical analysis of the 3 parameters taken under consideration reported that at the end of treatment: All VAS results at baseline showed a statistically significant improvement; the assessment criteria taken into account in the VAS were the main symptoms resulting from VVA: dryness, dyspareunia, pain, itching. 4 weeks after treatment with Plexr®, each of these indicators decreased to at least half of what they were at the beginning. The mean value of the VHI showed a significant improvement in the general vaginal health condition of the patients, showing that after one month of treatment with Plexr®, the index increased twice its initial value
Why Plexr® is the solution
Basically, the study largely showed how effective Plexr® can be for VVA treatment. Moreover, results emerged from this research also highlighted other transversal benefits deriving from Plexr®: -The induced heat, the thermal remodeling with the formation of new collagen fibers can certainly reduce the discomfort; -Simultaneous constriction of the lips is smaller and their clearing after treatment can be a further advantage of the device; -Lack of side effects; All these advantages linked to non-pharmacological treatment performed with Plexr® can lead to the assertion that the medical device made by GMV may be a valid alternative to pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment of vaginal and vulvar atrophy symptoms.
