Efficacy of nonablative radiofrequency on sexual function in postmenopausal women: a randomized clinical trial.

Menopause (New York, N.Y.) · 2026 · Benefit · Moderate evidence

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BenefitModerate evidencePaper 4327

The radiofrequency treatment group showed significantly greater improvements in sexual function and vaginal health compared to the sham group at post-treatment and 12-week follow-up, with moderate to large effect sizes. No significant changes were observed in…

Study snapshot

PublicationMenopause (New York, N.Y.) · 2026

Study typerandomized_trial

Reported directionBenefit

Evidence ratingModerate

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of nonablative capacitive-resistive monopolar radiofrequency on sexual function and vaginal health in postmenopausal women with genitourinary syndrome of menopause. METHODS: This was a single-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial. The participants were randomly assigned to receive six weekly sessions of capacitive-resistive monopolar radiofrequency (n=32) or sham treatment (n=30). Sexual function was assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and vaginal health was assessed using the Vaginal Health Index (VHI). The estrogenic status was determined by vaginal cytology, which involves calculating the proportions of basal, intermediate, and superficial cells. Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-treatment, and 12-week follow-up. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the intervention group showed significantly greater improvements in the Female Sexual Function Index and Vaginal Health Index at post-treatment and at the 12-week follow-up. FSFI mean changes were 5.86 versus 1.33 at posttreatment (P<0.001) and 4.41 versus -0.41 at 12-week follow-up (P=0.011). VHI mean changes were 4.75 versus -0.03 at post-treatment (P<0.001) and 6.90 versus -0.66 at follow-up (P<0.001). The effect sizes were moderate to large for the FSFI (Cohen's d >0.77, 95% CI, 0.25-1.29) and large for the VHI (d >3.49, 95% CI, 2.68-4.28). No significant changes were observed in estrogenic status, and no adverse events were reported. CONCLUSION: Capacitive-resistive monopolar radiofrequency significantly improved sexual function and vaginal health in women with genitourinary syndrome of menopause, thereby supporting its use as a safe, nonhormone treatment option.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typerandomized_trial

Effect directionbenefit

Populationpostmenopausal women with genitourinary syndrome of menopause

Sample size62

Exposuresix weekly sessions

Evidence strengthModerateConfidence: 80% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

sexual function
vaginal health
estrogenic status
adverse events

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "randomized_trial",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "nonablative capacitive-resistive monopolar radiofrequency",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "six weekly sessions"
  },
  "population": "postmenopausal women with genitourinary syndrome of menopause",
  "sample_size": 62,
  "outcomes": [
    "sexual function",
    "vaginal health",
    "estrogenic status",
    "adverse events"
  ],
  "main_findings": "The radiofrequency treatment group showed significantly greater improvements in sexual function and vaginal health compared to the sham group at post-treatment and 12-week follow-up, with moderate to large effect sizes. No significant changes were observed in estrogenic status and no adverse events were reported.",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [],
  "evidence_strength": "moderate",
  "confidence": 0.8,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency",
    "sexual function",
    "postmenopausal women",
    "genitourinary syndrome of menopause",
    "vaginal health",
    "randomized clinical trial"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1097/gme.0000000000002743
PubMed: 41665605

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