[Laser technology applications in functional urology and urogynecology.]

LASER (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) technology consists of the emission of a high-energy light beam. In medicine, it is used to cut, coagulate, fragment and evaporate biological or synthetic tissues. In the field of Functional Urology and Urogynecology its use has been widely explored. This article tries to give an overview of its applications in this subspecialty. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A non-systematic free search was performed in Pubmed, Embase and Google Scholar,combining the terms "laser", "laser technology", "interstitial cystitis", "trigonitis", "urinary tract infections","mesh", "mesh complications", "microbiome", "menopause genitourinary syndrome", "vulvovaginal atrophy", "urinary incontinence", "pelvic organ prolapse", "lichensclerosus", "complications" and "vaginal laxity". All relevant studies were retrieved in full text, in order to prepare a summary of each of the pathologies in which laser therapy has been used in Functional Urology and Urogynecology over time.

There are different types of lasers and different application modalities to treat a wide variety of functional pathologies, including interstitial cystitis, trigonitis, mesh complications, urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse. In some of them its use has been abandoned, despite the fact that, theoretically, they offer advantages over other therapies, such as in the case of interstitial cystitis. In others there is still not enough evidence in terms of safety and efficacy to be an alternativeto other conventional treatments.

Although laser therapy offers certain advantages over other treatments, its use has not been generalized in the subspecialty of Functional Urology and Urogynecology. More evidence is needed to demonstrate its efficacy and safety.