Vaginal Laxity & Dryness Treatment in Singapore

Many women notice changes in intimate health that they find hard to raise, even with their doctor. These can include a sense of looseness or reduced sensation after vaginal childbirth, dryness and discomfort during intimacy, burning or irritation, or light bladder leakage when coughing, laughing or exercising. Women researching vaginal laxity treatment in Singapore are often relieved to learn how common these experiences are, and that there are several ways to address them.

Two different processes are usually involved. Childbirth can stretch the vaginal walls, the supporting connective tissue and the pelvic floor muscles, and these do not always fully recover. Separately, falling oestrogen levels around menopause, during breastfeeding or after some cancer treatments thin the vaginal lining, reduce natural lubrication and elasticity, and can affect the urethra and bladder. Doctors now call this group of symptoms the genitourinary syndrome of menopause.

Because the causes differ, so do the options. Pelvic floor exercises strengthen the muscles that support the bladder and vagina. Moisturisers, lubricants and doctor-prescribed local treatments address dryness. Energy-based treatments, such as external radiofrequency with muscle stimulation or internal fractional laser, aim to support tissue tone and quality, although the evidence for them is still developing and is not uniformly positive. Often the most useful plan combines more than one approach, chosen after an examination rather than from a menu.

“Energy-based intimate treatments can help some women, but the evidence is mixed, so we explain the established first-line options alongside them.”

— Dr Sin Yong, IN Eternity Clinic

Main triggers

Vaginal childbirth, menopause, breastfeeding, some cancer treatments, ageing

Tissues involved

Vaginal lining (epithelium), underlying connective tissue, pelvic floor muscles, urethra and bladder neck

Medical term for dryness symptoms

Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), previously called vulvovaginal atrophy

Common symptoms

Laxity or reduced sensation, dryness, burning, discomfort with intimacy, urinary urgency, light stress leakage

Energy types used

External radiofrequency with electrical muscle stimulation; internal fractional laser

Checks before treatment

Pelvic examination, cervical screening status, infection screen, assessment for prolapse

What goes where

The honest ladder:
non-invasive first, medical when it is needed

SKINGLIFT® at SkinRev may suit women who have recovered from childbirth, have no pelvic symptoms needing medical attention, and want an external, non-invasive way to support tone alongside their own pelvic floor exercises. Please see the doctor at IN Eternity Clinic first if your main concern is dryness, pain or burning, if you have bladder leakage, recurrent urinary infections or a feeling of heaviness or a bulge, or if you are post-menopausal. Any bleeding after menopause, bleeding between periods or after intimacy, unusual discharge or a new lump needs prompt medical review and should be checked before any treatment. Energy-based treatments are generally deferred during pregnancy, within the first months after delivery, and during active infection. Women with a pacemaker or other implanted electronic device, or metal implants in the pelvis, should mention this, as muscle stimulation may not be suitable.

What the research says

The evidence,
with sources

In 2014, two international societies agreed to replace the term vulvovaginal atrophy with genitourinary syndrome of menopause, defined as a collection of genital, sexual and urinary symptoms linked to falling oestrogen and other sex hormones. Recognising these symptoms as a medical condition, rather than an inevitable part of ageing, is an important first step. For bladder leakage, a Cochrane review of 31 randomised studies found that pelvic floor muscle training can cure or improve stress and other forms of urinary incontinence in women and supports it as first-line conservative care.

Evidence for vaginal laser is mixed. A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised studies found improvements in vaginal health scores, dryness, burning and pain with intimacy after carbon dioxide laser, but rated the certainty of evidence as low and did not recommend laser as routine treatment for these symptoms. A well-designed sham-controlled study in postmenopausal women found no significant difference between laser and sham treatment at 12 months. This is why we discuss laser as one option among several, with realistic expectations, and individual results vary. Research on external radiofrequency with muscle stimulation for intimate tone is at an early stage, so it is presented as a supportive option.

References

1. Portman DJ, Gass ML; Vulvovaginal Atrophy Terminology Consensus Conference Panel. Genitourinary syndrome of menopause: new terminology for vulvovaginal atrophy from the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health and the North American Menopause Society. Menopause. 2014;21(10):1063-1068.
2. Dumoulin C, Cacciari LP, Hay-Smith EJC. Pelvic floor muscle training versus no treatment, or inactive control treatments, for urinary incontinence in women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;10:CD005654.
3. Pessoa LLMN, de Souza ATB, Sarmento ACA, et al. Laser therapy for genitourinary syndrome of menopause: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trial. Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2024;46:e-rbgo38.
4. Li FG, Maheux-Lacroix S, Deans R, et al. Effect of fractional carbon dioxide laser vs sham treatment on symptom severity in women with postmenopausal vaginal symptoms: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2021;326(14):1381-1389.

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