Intimate health · Non-surgical
Women's intimate wellness: Compare practices from our network
Dryness, pain during sex and leaking urine are common, and treatable. Here is what clinic-based options involve, and what the evidence says about them.
Our network
Women's intimate wellness providers from Adoreal's partner network.
Irvine, California · United States
South Coast Plastic Surgery (SoCo)
PRP injections (marketed as the O-Shot) within the practice's wellness program, which begins with a consultation, lab work and a hormone evaluation.
Irvine, California · United States
South Coast Plastic Surgery (SoCo)
PRP injections (marketed as the O-Shot) within the practice's wellness program, which begins with a consultation, lab work and a hormone evaluation.
Ready to see who performs women's intimate wellness near you?
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How to choose a practice for intimate health
Board certification is the starting point. The details below are worth weighing carefully when you're choosing the practitioner who's right for your goals.
Here's what to look for before you decide:
A good practitioner asks about the cause first.
Dryness, pain and leaking urine can come from menopause, childbirth, medicines, infection or other conditions. A practice that wants to know what your doctor has found, or suggests you see one, is putting your health before a treatment plan.
They should be honest about the evidence.
PRP injections and vaginal laser are offered widely, but the evidence is limited and regulators are cautious. Expect the practitioner to say so without being asked.
Established treatments should be part of the conversation.
Pelvic floor muscle training, lubricants and moisturisers, and treatments a doctor can prescribe after an assessment are first steps in public health guidance. A practice that mentions them is giving you the full picture.
Ask who will treat you, and what their training is.
Intimate treatments should be carried out by licensed medical professionals in a private, clinical setting. Ask about their qualifications and how many of these treatments they perform.
You should never feel rushed.
Talking about sexual health can feel uncomfortable. A good practice gives you time, explains the plan in writing, and is fine with you taking it away to think.
Before your consultation, prepare this question
“What do you think is causing my symptoms, what is the evidence for this treatment, and what else could I try first?”
A practitioner who answers all three, including the last one, is treating your symptoms rather than selling a course of sessions.
Find a Women's intimate wellness ProviderAbout the treatment
About women's intimate wellness
What is women's intimate wellness treatment?
Women's intimate wellness covers a group of concerns that are common and rarely talked about: vaginal dryness, soreness or itching, pain during sex, leaking urine, and changes in desire or sensation. They often follow childbirth, menopause, cancer treatment or certain medicines, and they can affect daily life as much as sex.
Some aesthetic and wellness practices now offer clinic-based treatments for these concerns, mainly platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections made from your own blood, and lasers applied inside the vagina and to the vulva. This page explains what those treatments are, what the evidence does and does not show, and why your first conversation is usually with a GP, gynecologist or women's health service.
Nothing on this page can tell you what is causing your symptoms. Bleeding after sex, between periods or after menopause, unusual discharge, or symptoms that do not settle should be checked by a doctor before any clinic-based treatment.
Common concerns
The concerns these treatments are offered for include:
- Vaginal dryness, soreness or itching
- Pain or discomfort during sex
- Leaking urine when coughing, sneezing or exercising
- Changes in sensation or desire
Hormone changes around menopause, pregnancy and breastfeeding, some medicines, and cancer treatment can all cause vaginal dryness, according to the NHS.
Treatment options
- PRP injections (sometimes marketed as the O-Shot): platelet-rich plasma from your own blood, injected into the vaginal and clitoral tissue.
- Vaginal laser (such as CO2RE Intima): fractional CO2 laser applied inside the vagina and to the vulva.
- Established first steps: lubricants and moisturisers, pelvic floor muscle training, and treatments a doctor may prescribe after an assessment.
What to expect
Assessment. A doctor's assessment first, then a consultation at the practice, often with lab work.
Treatment. PRP takes about 30 to 60 minutes including the blood draw; a laser session about 15 minutes.
Aftercare. Most people resume normal activities the same day. Avoid sex for about a week after laser, or as advised.
Series. Practices usually plan three sessions, with maintenance later.
Evidence and results
Results vary and are not guaranteed. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons calls the evidence for PRP injections preliminary. In 2018 the FDA said no energy-based device had been cleared or approved for vaginal symptoms related to menopause, urinary incontinence or sexual function, and NICE advises using vaginal laser for these concerns only in research.
Risks and side effects
PRP injections and vaginal laser are generally described as low-downtime treatments, but neither is risk-free, and the evidence for both is still limited:
- Soreness, swelling or bruising at PRP injection sites, usually short-lived.
- Infection, which is rare.
- Burns, scarring, pain during sex and ongoing pain, reported by the FDA after energy-based vaginal procedures.
- Little or no noticeable change.
Tell your practitioner if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have an infection, or take blood-thinning medication.
What regulators say
The evidence is still limited
In 2018 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned that it had not cleared or approved any energy-based device, including lasers, for treating vaginal symptoms related to menopause, urinary incontinence or sexual function, and that safety and effectiveness for these uses had not been established. In 2021 NICE in the UK advised that vaginal laser for these concerns should only be used in research.
Ask any practice how its device is cleared, what the evidence is for your symptom, and what happens if you do not improve.
Common questions
Women's intimate wellness questions, answered.
If your question isn't here, ask us directly. A real person answers, and we won't push you toward anything.
Talk to us →What is the O-Shot?
O-Shot is a trademarked name for PRP injections into the clitoris and vaginal tissue. The plasma is prepared from your own blood. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons describes the evidence as preliminary and says more rigorous studies are needed.
Is this the same as vaginal rejuvenation?
The terms overlap. Vaginal rejuvenation usually means energy-based devices such as lasers. This page looks at intimate health more broadly, including PRP injections and where to start with a doctor.
Is vaginal laser approved for menopause symptoms or incontinence?
In 2018 the FDA said it had not cleared or approved any energy-based device for vaginal symptoms related to menopause, urinary incontinence or sexual function. Some devices are cleared for other gynecological uses. NICE advises using vaginal laser for these concerns only in research.
Do the treatments hurt?
Partner practices describe PRP injections as causing mild discomfort after numbing cream, and laser sessions as needing no anesthesia. Everyone's experience differs, so ask what pain relief is available.
How many sessions are usually recommended?
Practices typically plan a series. Partner practices describe three PRP sessions four to six weeks apart, and three laser sessions three to four weeks apart, with maintenance after six to twelve months.
Should I see my doctor first?
Yes. Dryness, pain during sex and leaking urine have several possible causes. See a doctor promptly if you have bleeding after sex, between periods or after menopause, or unusual discharge.
What can I try at home?
The NHS suggests water-based lubricants, vaginal moisturisers and unperfumed washes for dryness, and pelvic floor muscle training for leaking urine. Avoid perfumed soaps, douches and creams not made for the vagina.
Can I have treatment after breast cancer?
Talk to your oncology team first. Cancer treatment can cause vaginal dryness, and some treatments that are suitable for others may not be suitable for you.
Will it improve my sex life?
No treatment can promise that. Some people find comfort improves when dryness or pain is treated. Changes in desire or arousal can have many causes, and a doctor or sex therapist can help you explore them.
