New Australian MonaLisa TouchTM clinical trial

MonaLisa TouchTM (MLT) is a new, non-hormonal treatment for women with vaginal atrophy (VA).

Vaginal atrophy most commonly occurs after menopause, when oestrogen levels fall and the walls of the vagina become thinner, drier and may become inflamed. VA also affectS women who have had breast cancer, where medications affect oestrogen levels and bring on menopausal symptoms. This often distressing condition can cause painful burning, itching, dryness, painful intercourse and pain during urination.

MLT is a type of fractional CO2 laser technology treatment which involves pin-point laser applications to the vaginal lining. At present, there is not enough evidence about the effectiveness of MonaLisa TouchTM for it to be recommended as a medical treatment. It is currently expensive to access and there is no Medicare rebate available. This article provides an interesting overview of fractional CO2 therapy for vaginal atrophy.

University of NSW Associate Professor Jason Abbott (a gynaecologist and obstetrician) is currently running a clinical trial in Australia which will evaluate how effective MonaLisa TouchTM is in treating postmenopausal VA symptoms in women with a history of breast cancer.

The study is being conducted in Sydney.

You can read more about the trial on our Clinical trials for women who have completed active treatment webpage.