Comparing Treatments for Painful Sex

What is the Best Treatment for Painful Sex?

After menopause, more than 50% of women report having painful sex. Sadly, this condition – known as genitourinary syndrome of menopause or “GSM” – is one that women often suffer with in silence, because they are two embarrassed to seek help – or they think pain during intercourse is a ‘normal’ part of aging. But painful intercourse does NOT have to be a part of aging that women must accept! There are new, state-of-the-art treatments that can eliminate painful sex.

In this article we compare the newest, most innovative and effective treatments for painful sex.

Treatments for Painful Sex: Hormones

Estrogen is necessary for maintaining thick, healthy, elastic, lubricated vaginal walls and tissues. But the hormone decline of menopause can wreak havoc on a woman’s sex life by causing thinning and laxity of the vaginal walls – resulting in: pain during intercourse; decreased vaginal lubrication; vaginal itching, pain and dryness; reduced sexual sensation; vaginal laxity; and, less frequent or less intense orgasms.

In the past, doctors treated women who suffered from painful sex with either vaginal or oral hormone replacement therapy (HRT). But estrogen that is delivered using a cream, a “ring,” or a vaginally inserted tablet is not only messy and inconvenient – but must be continued daily or multiple times weekly. Previously, if vaginal estrogen insertion treatment was not effective to remedy painful sex, women were then typically put on oral Estrogen hormone pills. But oral hormone therapy offers the disadvantage of a roller coaster effect with hormone surges in the morning that then wear off completely by the end of the day. And, patients also have to remember to take pills every day at the same time.

However a new form of HRT – bioidentical subcutaneous pellets – more naturally and effectively addresses the underlying causes of pain during intercourse. Many physicians believe that this is most effective, safest, and most natural method of replacing female hormones. Time-released, subdermal (under the skin) hormone pellets deliver missing hormones consistently and evenly – when they are needed – just like the body itself.

A single hormone pellet implant consistently releases low doses of hormones for several months with just one single insertion. And, unlike the synthetic hormones that are created in a laboratory, bioidentical hormone replacement pellets are derived from 100% natural plant-based sources – making them safer, and more easily and effectively used by the female body.

Treatments for Painful Sex: Viveve® Vaginal Rejuvenation

Viveve® Vaginal Rejuvenation treatment for painful sex uses radio-frequency heat energy with integrated cooling technology to help restore the vaginal tissue naturally. Collagen is the substance in the skin (including the vagina) that is responsible for skin strength and elasticity. Radiofrequency treatments stimulate the body’s own collagen production in the vagina – and the cooling technology component ensures that the procedure is more comfortable than other types of vaginal rejuvenation treatments.

This natural, safe, non-surgical technology improves the vaginal tissues’ texture, lubrication, suppleness, tightness and elasticity without hormones and without surgery. In multiple clinical studies that were approved by the FDA, Viveve® has been clinically proven to be a safe and effective treatment for painful sex – without reported side effects or complications.

Viveve® is the ONLY vaginal rejuvenation that only requires a single treatment to treat painful sex. Additionally, unlike laser vaginal treatments, Viveve® has patented cryo-cooling technology incorporated into the treatment to offset the heat of the treatment, for a relaxing and pain free experience.

Why Viveve RF is Better Than Lasers for Painful Sex

Laser vaginal rejuvenation treatments for painful sex uses “ablation” in which the laser creates microscopic incisions or “cuts” in the vaginal tissue. The body’s healing response to these tiny cuts, stimulates collagen production, thickening the vaginal skin over time – as well as increasing lubrication and elasticity. This makes them much more uncomfortable than pain-free Viveve® radiofrequency vaginal rejuvenation

Additionally, all laser treatments on the market for painful sex (DiVa, MonaLisa Touch, FemiLift ) currently require 3 treatments, spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart. However, Viveve® radiofrequency vaginal rejuvenation only requires a SINGLE treatment to eliminate pain during intercourse.

Painful Sex Treatments – Oakland County

Dr. Ali has helped hundreds of women in Oakland County and across the Detroit area stop bladder leaks & improve sexual intimacy with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) and/or just a single 30 minute Viveve® vaginal rejuvenation treatment!

Both painful sex treatments are affordable, painless, procedures performed in our Oakland County medical office. There is no downtime, and you will begin to notice vaginal improvement within just a few weeks.

Call us for a discreet, confidential vaginal rejuvenation consultation and see if BHRT or Viveve® is right for you!

Oakland County Painful Sex Treatments: 248-335-7200

Vaginal Rejuvenation in Younger Women after Childbirth

Clinical Studies Prove Effectiveness of Vaginal Rejuvenation in Younger Women after Childbirth

Due to a number of causes – from childbirth and aging, to reduced hormone production, to genetics or even trauma – the vagina can become loose and lax over time. The result is often stress urinary incontinence (bladder leaks), itching, burning and dryness, decreased sensation during sex, and painful intercourse.

Previously, these conditions could only be treated with ongoing hormone therapy, or painful surgery with a long recovery period. Recently, however, surgical procedures, medications and topical creams have been replaced with new, noninvasive, energy-based systems of vaginal rejuvenation called Viveve® .

Viveve® vaginal rejuvenation is a relatively new, non-invasive, non-surgical treatment that is now available for women seeking to revitalize and strengthen the elasticity of the vaginal walls and improve the natural lubrication of their vaginal tissue. The Viveve® vaginal rejuvenation treatment uses a proprietary form of radiofrequency based energy to remodel collagen and restore the tissue in the vaginal.

After just a single Viveve® vaginal rejuvenation treatment in our Detroit area office, patients typically report decreased bladder leaks, improved vaginal tightness and lubrication, increased sexual sensation, and elimination of pain during intercourse. But don’t just take our word for it! There is also plenty of clinical research supporting the effectiveness of Viveve® vaginal rejuvenation.

Vaginal Rejuvenation & Childbirth

One of the most common causes of a loose, lax, thinned, or dry vagina is vaginal childbirth. The stretching and related trauma of delivering a child through the vaginal canal often leads to strected or thinned vaginal tissue.

Two clinical reports have been published demonstrating the effectiveness of Viveve® vaginal rejuvenation device for treating vaginal laxity following vaginal child birth in women before menopause.

Viveve® Vaginal Rejuvenation Study #1

A pilot clinical study was conducted on 24 women who had delivered children vaginally. The women were between the ages of 25 and 44 years. Reverse gradient radiofrequency energy was delivered through the “vaginal mucosa” (tissue).

Results from the study showed that after only 1 month after vaginal radiofrequency treatment, 67% of the women reported that vaginal tightness had already significantly improved. By 6 months almost 90% of the patients reported a substantial improvement in vaginal tightness.

Additionally, the women also reported that their sexual function had improved. And absolutely no adverse effects or complications were reported during the vaginal rejuvenation study.

Viveve® Vaginal Rejuvenation Study #2

In another clinical study, 30 pre-menopausal women between the ages of 21 and 52 were treated with a single 30-min office treatment using Viveve® radiofrequency Vaginal Rejuvenation. 100% of the patients reported a significant improvement in sexual function at 6 months after treatment, and all of the women also reported a decrease in discomfort and/or pain during sex.

Every participant in the clinical study also reported a decrease vaginal laxity (looseness) within the first month after the treatment, as well as sustained vaginal tightening through 12 months.

Board certified plastic surgeon Doctor Ali stays on the cutting edge of the latest prevention, treatment, and management strategies for women’s vaginal health and wellbeing. Viveve® radiofrequency Vaginal Rejuvenation treatment enables women and their physicians to have another treatment option to consider, while weighing the associated risks and benefits.

Top Detroit Area Vaginal Rejuvenation Treatments

Dr. Ali has helped hundreds of women in the Detroit area stop bladder leaks & improve sexual intimacy with just a single 30 minute Viveve® vaginal rejuvenation treatment.

Viveve® is a fast, affordable, and painless procedure performed in our Birmingham, MI (Detroit area) medical office. There is no downtime, and you will begin to notice vaginal improvement within just a few weeks.

Call us for a discreet, confidential vaginal rejuvenation consultation and see if Viveve® vaginal rejuvenation is right for you!

Detroit Area Vaginal Rejuvenation Consultation: 248-335-7200

The Different Types of Urinary Incontinence

The Different Types of Urinary Incontinence

While sudden, unwanted bladder leaks affect up to 50% of females over the age of 50, urinary incontinence can affect women of all ages. Sadly, many of these women suffer in silence and don’t seek medical help because they are too embarrassed or because they assume it’s just an inevitable part of getting older.

At any age, bladder leaks can interfere with daily routines and seriously impact a woman’s quality of life. And the good news is that there are a variety of treatments that can reduce or eliminate bladder leaks.

Stress Urinary Incontinence

Stress incontinence is a conditions that occurs when the pelvic floor muscles are weakened due to pregnancy and delivery, hormonal changes, weigh gain or aging. When pressure or stress is put on the bladder and urethra during certain activities – like laughing, coughing, running, exercising, etc. – urine leaks can range from a few drops to much more.

Stress urinary incontinence is the most common cause of bladder leaks in women, especially women over the age of 50.

Urge Urinary Incontinence

Urge incontinence is also commonly known as “overactive bladder”.  With this condition, bladder leaks occur when the brain sends the wrong messages to your bladder at the wrong time. These nerve signals cause the bladder muscles to suddenly contract, creating a strong urge to urinate, even when the bladder is not full.

Because the sensation to urinate is so strong, the woman is often unable to hold the urine long enough to get to a bathroom. Urge incontinence can be its own separate condition, or it may be a side effect of an underlying medical issues such as an infection (UTI), diabetes, or neurological damage.

Mixed Urinary Incontinence

Mixed incontinence can be even more frustrating because it is a combination of both stress and urge urinary incontinence. As such it can result in involuntary bladder leaks due to sneezing, coughing, or exertion, as well as sudden urges to urinate unrelated to any activity.

Overflow Urinary Incontinence

Overflow incontinence occurs due to weak bladder muscles and/or a blockage in the urinary system. If the bladder muscles to weak to completely empty the bladder, it can retain urine and become too full – resulting in Involuntary urine leakage.

Causes of overflow urinary incontinence include: medications, tumors, bladder and kidney stones, loss of sensation, and other medical conditions.

Functional Urinary Incontinence

Functional incontinence is not a disease in and of itself. It refers to being unable to reach the bathroom in time due to cognitive or mobility issues that aren’t related to the urinary system.

For example, immobility, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s disease, traumatic brain injury (TBI), can cause of functional incontinence from preventing a person to reach a toilet when they have an urge to urinate.

Viveve Treatment for Urinary Incontinence

Women CAN get relief from urinary incontinence and improve their quality of life with appropriate treatment.

The Viveve System – available at AMAE in Birmingham, MI – is a treatment designed to restore the health the pelvic area WITHOUT surgery. Viveve uses gentle, non-invasive radiofrequency energy to tightening the lax muscles which may help regain bladder control.

In clinical studies, Viveve has proven successful in treating stress, urge and mixed urinary incontinence by strengthening weak pelvic floor muscles, improving blood flow, and supporting healthy nerve and tissue function in the pelvic floor.

Viveve is a simple one-time, in-office procedure that requires no incisions, no anesthetic, and no downtime.

In addition to treating urinary incontinence, Viveve tightens loose vaginal muscles, restores thickness and elasticity to vaginal walls, and can improve sexual desire and enjoyment!

Viveve Urinary Incontinence Treatment | Birmingham, MI:  248-335-7200

How Viveve® Vaginal Rejuvenation Improves Sex

How Viveve® Vaginal Rejuvenation Treatment Improves Sex

Viveve® vaginal rejuvenation uses radio-frequency energy with integrated cooling technology to help restore tightness, elasticity, lubrication and sensation to the tissue in the vagina and pelvic floor. Collagen and elastin are the natural substances in the body that are responsible for skin strength, thickness and elasticity. Viveve® radiofrequency stimulates collagen and elastin production in the vagina – while the cooling technology ensures that the procedure is more comfortable than other types of vaginal rejuvenation treatments.

Radiofrequency has been FDA approved to treat loose and “lax” skin on the face for almost a decade. Now this same safe, non-surgical technology is being used to increase collagen production in the vagina – which improves the vaginal tissue’s texture, lubrication, suppleness, thickness and elasticity.

In multiple clinical studies that were approved by the FDA, Viveve® has been clinically proven to be a safe and effective treatment for vaginal rejuvenation – without reported side effects or complications.

In addition to remedying pain during intercourse, Viveve® also typically improves sexual sensation. This is because the radiofrequency heat used for the treatment stimulates the body’s own collagen and elastin production, for thicker and more responsive vaginal walls.  In addition to plumping and strengthening the vaginal tissue with new collagen, Viveve also improves blood flow to the vagina. And, Viveve also stimulates the production of natural vaginal lubrication in the vagina – making the tissue less dry, so intercourse is less painful and more pleasurable.

What to Expect during Viveve® Vaginal Rejuvenation Treatment

During your Viveve® vaginal rejuvenation treatment a small wand (about a thumb’s width) is gently inserted into the vagina to deliver warm radiofrequency (RF) energy. The patient experiences both a heating and cooling sensation, thanks to Viveve®’s unique, patented cooling technology.

The majority of our patients describe the procedure as comfortable, not painful. Only a single treatment is needed. The Viveve treatment itself typically only lasts approximately 30 minutes, during which time the patient can relax, use their phone, or listen to music .

Benefits of Viveve® Vaginal Rejuvenation

Since Viveve® vaginal rejuvenation is non-surgical and has no negative side effects, patients can return to work or their normal daily activities immediately after the 30-minute treatment. Patients will typically be asked to abstain from sexual intercourse for a couple days, but other than that there are no post-procedure restrictions on activities.

Viveve is also a very affordable treatment – less than a quarter of the cost of surgical vaginoplasty.

Viveve® treatment begins to work immediately. Many women report some immediate initial results, such as improved lubrication, more comfortable sex and reduced itching and dryness.

After just a few weeks most women report even greater effects including an increase in vaginal tightness and sensitivity, less or no pain during intercourse, improved sexual sensation, and a even a reduction in bladder leaks. After approximately six to nine weeks, the collagen should be substantially restored and “rejuvenated” for the maximum improvement in sexual sensation, tightness and lubrication.

Vaginal Rejuvenation Treatment | Birmingham, MI

Dr. Ali has helped hundreds of women in the Birmingham, MI area improve sexual intimacy and enjoyment with just a single 30 minute Viveve® vaginal rejuvenation treatment.

It is an affordable, painless, procedure performed in our Birmingham, MI (Detroit area) medical office. There is no downtime, and you will begin to notice dramatic vaginal improvement within just a few weeks.

Call us for a discreet, confidential vaginal rejuvenation consultation and see if Viveve® is right for you!

Vaginal Rejuvenation Consultation | Birmingham, MI: 248-335-7200

Vaginoplasty vs. Viveve for Vaginal Tightening

Vaginoplasty vs. Viveve for Vaginal Tightening

Vaginoplasty is a surgical procedure that “tightens up” a vagina that feels lax or loose as a result of childbirth or aging. Viveve® non-surgical radiofrequency treatment also “tightens up” the vagina. So how do you know which treatment is best for you?

Southfield, MI area board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ali has helped hundreds of women address vaginal looseness and restore vaginal tightness with both surgical vaginoplasty and Viveve® non-surgical radiofrequency treatment. In this article he discusses the differences between the two procedures, to help you decide what’s right for you.

Vaginoplasty Surgery for Vaginal Tightening

Vaginoplasty is a surgery that requires anesthetic. Incisions are made on the inside of the vagina, and the vaginal wall is stretched and pulled taught at the entry point to the vagina – and stitched into place.

Recovery time is typically around two weeks for vaginoplasty surgery. Although vaginoplasty is a relatively safe and “routine” surgery, as with any surgery it comes with risks.

While vaginoplasty is a very routine, safe and low-risk surgery, as with any surgical procedure rare risks include:

  • Possible scarring
  • Some risk of infection
  • Reaction to anesthesia

Additionally, because vaginoplasty is a surgery requiring an anesthesiologist and an operating room, vaginoplasty is more expensive than non-invasive treatments like Viveve. Typically vaginoplasty is NOT covered by health insurance as it is generally considered an elective cosmetic procedure.

Viveve® Radiofrequency for Vaginal Tightening

Viveve® radiofrequency treatments also achieve tightening of the vagina – but without surgery. Because it is non-surgical, there are no incisions, no anesthetic and no operating room is needed for Viveve®.

This means there are no known risks or side effects to Viveve® vaginal tightening:

  • NO pain
  • NO possible scarring
  • NO risk of infection
  • NO anesthesia so NO possible reaction

Only a single treatment is needed with Viveve®, which only takes less than an hour. Not only is there NO downtime with Viveve®, and it is about 1/4 of the cost of vaginoplasty surgery.

Vaginal Tightening & Sexual Sensation

There is  improved “friction” after vaginoplasty surgery, due to the tightened vaginal tissues, which may improve sexual response and enjoyment for the female patients and for her partner. Some surgeons claim vaginoplasty also improves sexual sensitivity – but this claim is strongly disputed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

Viveve® also typically improves sexual sensation. This is because the radiofrequency heat used for the treatment stimulates the body’s own collagen and elastin production, for thicker and more responsive vaginal walls.  In addition to plumping and strengthening the vaginal tissue with new collagen, Viveve also improves blood flow to the vagina. And, Viveve also stimulates the production of natural vaginal lubrication in the vagina – making the tissue less dry, so intercourse is less painful and more pleasurable.

Vaginal Tightening Doctor | Southfield Area

Dr. Ali has helped hundreds of women in the Southfield area tighten a lax vagina, stop bladder leaks and improve sexual intimacy with just a single Viveve® treatment!

Viveve vaginal tightening is an affordable, painless, procedure performed in our Birmingham, MI (Southfield area) medical office and spa. There is no downtime, and you will begin to notice vaginal improvement within just a few weeks.

Call us for a discreet, confidential vaginal rejuvenation consultation and see if Viveve® or vaginoplasty surgery is right for you!

Vaginal Tightening Consultation | Southfield Area: 248-335-7200