Photobiomodulation for Pelvic Pain

Hey, Bestie. If you’re like me, your whole “For You” page on social media is about red light therapy. This skin treatment is all the rage lately, with influencers commonly sharing about its positive effects on skin health and wrinkles. Red light therapy might look a little wacky (have you seen those red light masks people wear?!), but there is promising scientific research demonstrating the benefits of red light therapy on wrinkles, scars, acne, stretch marks, and more (1). Another name for red light therapy is photobiomodulation. With a name like that, you can see why people often refer to it by “red light therapy” or “low level laser light therapy.” As it turns out, photobiomodulation has also started to get its footing in the pelvic health arena and there is promising evidence suggesting it can improve pelvic pain. Today, let’s talk about photobiomodulation for pelvic pain, and the evidence in support of light/laser therapy for chronic pelvic pain (CPP). 

What is photobiomodulation?

So first off, what is photobiomodulation? Photobiomodulation, or PBM as we’ll refer to it from here on out, is a technique in which light is used with the intention of stimulating living things into healing themselves. As I mentioned above, It is also sometimes referred to as low level laser therapy (LLLT). The use of light therapy has been around for decades, but only recently gained footing among the pelvic health community. Previous studies show LLLT/PBM to be effective in managing a wide range of symptoms related to musculoskeletal disorders of the low back, wrist, hand, knee, neck, shoulder, foot, and more (2). More recently, researchers have been looking into whether this type of treatment could be effective at treating CPP. While more studies need to be done to understand the full impact and longevity of the treatment, initial studies are promising. 

How does PBM work?

The mechanisms of PBM are not entirely understood and the existing theories are still being researched, but studies suggest that it increases stem cell differentiation, improving the healing rate of tissues (3). It may also help in the turnover and proliferation rate of cells, which is critical for healing (3). When it comes to treatment of CPP, PBM involves the insertion of a light-emitting device into the vaginal canal for about 3 minutes. The treatment should not be painful, but the patient may feel a sensation of gentle warmth. 

Is PBM an effective treatment modality for CPP?

In a study looking at 144 females (128 included in the analysis) undergoing SoLa light therapy for CPP, results showed that 65% of participants experienced a significant reduction in pain (an improvement of at least 2 points on the NPRS pain-scale 0-10) after at least 8 treatments (4). Authors also report that “pain improvement was noted regardless of the diagnosis associated with the pain, meaning SoLá Pelvic Therapy was effective in patients with a variety of pelvic pain conditions such as endometriosis, IC/BPS, IBS, and vulvodynia” (4, 7). Another study looking at females with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) produced a very similar result, with just under 64% of patients completing the treatment (8 treatment sessions of PBM) demonstrating a significant improvement in pain symptoms (6). While this study demonstrates promising results, it is important to note that this was not a controlled study, and further studies will need to be completed to ensure best practice (6). 

Who is a candidate for PBM treatment?

According to the currently published studies, patients with CPP and pelvic floor trigger points are good candidates for PBM treatment (4). Studies have shown improvements in symptoms of CPP among a wide range of folks, including those with IC/BPS, endometriosis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and vulvodynia (4). Keep in mind that PBM is just another tool in the treatment of CPP. This one treatment method will not make or break your CPP. CPP is often very complex, and should be treated with a wide breadth of modalities and methods. Best results have been shown to result from interdisciplinary treatment plans involving a team of experts. While initial studies on PBM for CPP offer promising results, these treatments can be expensive and may not be accessible to everyone seeking them. If you are curious about CPP treatment with PBM, talk with your pelvic health therapist about it. 

Have you tried the SoLá device to treat your CPP or another PBM device? I’d love to hear about your experience! Let’s chat soon. 

XOXO,

Your Pelvic Bestie

References:

1. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22114-red-light-therapy 

2. Clijsen R, Brunner A, Barbero M, Clarys P, Taeymans J. Effects of low-level laser therapy on pain in patients with musculoskeletal disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2017 Aug;53(4):603-610. doi: 10.23736/S1973-9087.17.04432-X. Epub 2017 Jan 30. PMID: 28145397.

3. Dompe C, Moncrieff L, Matys J, Grzech-Leśniak K, Kocherova I, Bryja A, Bruska M, Dominiak M, Mozdziak P, Skiba THI, Shibli JA, Angelova Volponi A, Kempisty B, Dyszkiewicz-Konwińska M. Photobiomodulation-Underlying Mechanism and Clinical Applications. J Clin Med. 2020 Jun 3;9(6):1724. doi: 10.3390/jcm9061724. PMID: 32503238; PMCID: PMC7356229.

4. SoLá Pelvic Therapy: A novel photobiomodulation therapy for treatment of myofascial pelvic pain. Kohli, N. Contemporary OB/GYN JournalVol 68 No 10, Volume 68, Issue 10. Nov. 2023.

5. Zipper R, Pryor B, Lamvu G. Transvaginal Photobiomodulation for the Treatment of Chronic Pelvic Pain: A Pilot Study. Womens Health Rep (New Rochelle). 2021 Nov 23;2(1):518-527. doi: 10.1089/whr.2021.0097. PMID: 34841398; PMCID: PMC8617585.

6. Charles W. Butrick, Georgine Lamvu,Transvaginal Photobiomodulation Improves Pain in Women with Pelvic Muscle Tenderness and Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome: A Preliminary Observational Study, Urology,Volume 170,2022,Pages 14-20,ISSN 0090-4295, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.urology.2022.08.036.

7. Neeraj Kohli, Barry Jarnagin, Angela R Stoehr, and Georgine Lamvu An observational cohort study of pelvic floor photobiomodulation for treatment of chronic pelvic pain. (2021) Journal of Comparative Effectiveness Research. DOI: 10.2217/cer-2021-0187

*The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives