I am a breast cancer survivor and longtime patient of Dr. DeNevi's. After I underwent surgical menopause due to a family history of ovarian cancer, "normal" sex became more and more painful, forcing us to be creative to keep the fires alive. Over the many years Dr. DeNevi has been my doctor, she has thoughtfully listened to every one of my sexual and genital health concerns. After each annual checkup, I leave the office with remedies that work for me and my husband. The day she told me about the MonaLisa Touch, I knew I was a perfect candidate. Even if I couldn't report an unqualified success, I would still give rave reviews for Dr. DeNevi and her staff. But after 4 sessions and some dilation homework with my beloved, we have achieved the long-sought penetration that's been missing from our sex lives for a long, long time. It's hard to believe that a friendly half hour on the exam table and minor irritation that follows can have such dramatic results! We were surprised and delighted to notice an improvement within a week of the first treatment. At Avenues for Health every staff member is an expert on the MonaLisa Touch, and more than a few have undergone the treatment themselves. I am ready to shout my success and gratefulness to the world (but that's not exactly possible), so this five star review have to be sufficient.
With little or no estrogen the vagina looses its elasticity so it doesn't stretch as well. Some women develop extreme tightening of the vagina after menopause. The MonaLisa Touch will improve elasticity as well as the blood flow, lubrication and thickness of the tissue. It does not make the vagina smaller or tighter though it may improve tone. I have treated over a 100 women with MLT What I have found is that when the tightening is extreme (as when there have been many years without estrogen) the combination of MonaLisa Touch with some vaginal dilator work is usually successful. I typically have my patients start MonaLisa treatments and then start introducing the dilators about 4 weeks after the first treatment. I have had some of my patients use progressive sizing vibrating dilators/dildos as I think the vibration may help reduce the discomfort and also improve blood flow leading to more success.
Yes a once a year touch up or "booster" is recommended. Most women have a sustained improvement in the vagina and vulva for about 12 months after the initial series of 3 treatments. A one office visit per year "booster" treatment maintains those improvements.
MonaLisa Touch can help relieve many of the symptoms women experience from the low estrogen effects of natural, surgical or chemo induced menopause. Symptoms like vaginal dryness, pain and burning with penetrative sex, urinary urgency and frequency well as recurrent bladder and vaginal infections. It is also being used to treat a vulvar condition called Lichen Sclerosis.
