Dryness, itching and thinning of the vaginal tissue after the menopause is Alma's first indication for FemiLift and the use with the most sham-controlled trials, which is why we give each result on both sides. Every treatment is given by Dr Marie Duggan, GMC 7488383, at Femilift Clinic London, 130 Harley Street, London, W1G 7JU, after a free consultation and examination.
What the trials found
- No gain over sham on their main measures, four trials: one, in JAMA in 2021, followed 85 women for twelve months, and its biopsies found no tissue difference between laser and sham. The others were 30 women in 2021, 72 breast cancer survivors in 2023 and 34 in 2025; in the 34, daily dryness and the Vaginal Health Index improved with the laser.
- A gain over sham, two trials: 88 women in 2020, with satisfaction of 79.5% against 44.7%, and 58 women in 2021, with a dryness score falling by 5.6 against 1.9.
- The biopsy study: a sham-controlled study of 49 women from the 2021 trial found no tissue difference between laser and sham.
What NICE says
NICE guidance HTG582, on transvaginal laser for urogenital atrophy, says the evidence "does not show any short-term safety concerns" and that "this procedure should only be used in the context of research". It records that the committee was informed the procedure "may have a role for patients who are unable to use topical oestrogen". NICE's menopause guideline says to offer vaginal oestrogen for genitourinary symptoms of the menopause. On laser it says: "Do not offer vaginal laser treatment for genitourinary symptoms associated with menopause unless as part of a randomised controlled trial." Its rationale adds: "The evidence showed that laser treatment was effective for all outcomes. However, the committee agreed that, despite some promising results, the evidence base was too small."
How we plan it
In our practice Dr Marie Duggan examines you, with a smear test first, and gives you the statements above and the trial results, with vaginal oestrogen discussed alongside. In our practice FemiLift also suits someone who cannot use topical oestrogen, the group for whom NICE's committee was told the procedure "may have a role". The course is two or three sessions initially in Alma's words, typically three at four to six weeks apart in NICE's, with the plan set at the consultation. The incontinence page covers the second indication, and the full guide the rest. The price is in writing at a free consultation, with a price match on any comparable written quote.
