Better quality of life thanks to gentle and innovative gynaecology

The hormonal decline after the menopause is often noticeable in the vaginal area in the form of dry mucous membranes. This can lead to pain during sexual intercourse. Treatment with gels often does not have the desired effect.

The transvaginal laser offers a gentle and low-risk option. This treatment uses targeted heating to stimulate the vaginal tissue so that new collagen fibres and fine blood vessels are formed. This leads to regeneration and stabilisation of the mucous membrane. This improves moisture and stabilises the vaginal flora.

Dr Jörg Humburg, Head of the Pelvic Floor Centre and Gynaecology at Bethesda Hospital, recommends this method to women with menopause-related mucosal changes in the form of dryness in the genital area. In addition to pain, this can also lead to impaired bladder function. "If conservative treatments such as local hormone treatments and medication for bladder dysfunction do not have the desired effect or if the women do not want to use them, the laser is an interesting approach," says Humburg

Patients with hormone-dependent tumours who do not like to be given hormones locally for the vagina particularly benefit from this method. "If, for example, a 35-year-old woman with hormone-positive breast cancer has limited sexuality and quality of life as a result of the treatment, this can be very bad for the patient."

Low-risk, gentle and effective

Dr Humburg emphasises that this treatment at Bethesda Hospital is carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the Swiss Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics and has nothing to do with cosmetic treatments. "Because we follow the guidelines, we are miles away from that. It is important to rely on experts in this field." The treatment at Bethesda Hospital is carried out under strict safety conditions by three doctors who hold a licence for medical lasers. The devices also have standardised settings.

Transvaginal laser treatment is performed on an outpatient basis and without anaesthetic. The procedure takes 15 to 30 minutes and is repeated after four to five weeks. "It usually takes three sessions. Some women are satisfied with the result after just two treatments, so we don't do any more. The positive effect lasts for around a year, after which the treatment needs to be repeated."

Removing fibroids with pinpoint accuracy

Another gynaecological problem that many women are familiar with is fibroids. Not always, but in some women these benign tumours in the uterus are accompanied by symptoms such as increased periods, pain and fertility problems.

Bethesda Hospital also offers an innovative treatment method for this. Sonata therapy has proven its worth, says Dr Humburg. "This is a precise and safe method in which we locate the fibroids with ultrasound guidance, visualise them and ablate them with pinpoint accuracy using radiofrequency energy, i.e. sclerotherapy." This treatment offers several advantages over surgical removal, where fertility preservation cannot always be guaranteed. "It can also happen that fibroids are only partially removed during an operation and follow-up operations may be necessary in the future." Sonata therapy is therefore a good alternative to surgery. This is also confirmed by studies and the high success rate.

Symptoms - Atrophy in the genital area

The loss of tissue in the vagina and vulva is also known as vulvovaginal atrophy (VAA). Its most common symptoms include vaginal dryness, vaginal itching, discharge and pain during sexual intercourse.

Myoma / abdominal pain

Only around a quarter of women affected by a fibroid have symptoms. These usually manifest themselves in the following symptoms:

- Bleeding disorders and the resulting anaemia; Cycle disorders
- Constipation or increased urge to urinate
- abdominal pain as the fibroid grows or twists. The pain can affect the abdomen, lower abdomen, rectum and bladder
- Infertility and complications during pregnancy and childbirth