Understanding This Research on Lipogems® for Vaginal and Bladder Conditions

Ten Women Found Relief After Standard Treatments Failed

This UK-based study followed ten women struggling with vaginal atrophy, vulvovaginal dystrophy, and/or stress urinary incontinence. All had tried other treatments without satisfactory results. These conditions cause symptoms like vaginal dryness, itching, painful intercourse, and involuntary urine leakage—problems that significantly affect daily life and emotional wellbeing.

The researchers wanted to know: Could injections of the patient's own processed fat tissue offer a safe alternative? This was one of the first studies to explore micro-fragmented adipose tissue (specially processed fat from your own body) for these intimate health concerns.

No Complications Reported During or After the Procedure

Safety was the primary focus of this research. The team monitored patients carefully during surgery, recovery, and follow-up visits spanning six to sixteen months. Importantly, no adverse events occurred at any stage.

Specifically, patients experienced:

• No infections

• No significant pain

• No urinary discomfort

• No skin changes or irregularities

• No discharge

• No worsening of symptoms

This clean safety record is encouraging, especially since these conditions affect delicate tissues that can be vulnerable to complications.

All Patients Reported Symptom Improvement

Every woman in the study experienced improvement in her symptoms. The researchers measured outcomes using four validated questionnaires covering sexual function, urinary incontinence severity, vulvovaginal symptoms, and overall health status. Clinical examinations also confirmed positive changes.

While the study does not provide specific percentage improvements, the consistent pattern of benefit across all ten participants—each with different combinations of conditions—suggests the treatment may help various related problems simultaneously.

The Procedure Uses Your Body's Own Healing Cells

The treatment involves harvesting fat tissue through gentle liposuction, typically from the lower abdomen. A plastic surgeon collected about 200 millilitres of fat tissue from each patient. This tissue was then processed using the Lipogems® system, which mechanically prepares the fat without enzymes.

The processing preserves pericytes (helper cells that support blood vessel healing) and mesenchymal stem cells. These cells release natural substances that reduce inflammation and promote tissue repair. About 20 millilitres of processed tissue was then injected into the affected vaginal and urethral areas by a gynaecologist.

Why Current Treatments Often Fall Short

The researchers explain why many women seek alternatives. Hormone therapies for vaginal atrophy require ongoing use and raise cancer concerns for some patients. Fewer than half of women using prescribed treatments report satisfaction. Steroid creams for vulvovaginal dystrophy achieve complete resolution in only about twenty percent of patients. Surgery for stress incontinence carries complication risks, and up to fourteen percent of women need repeat operations.

Micro-fragmented adipose tissue injections may offer advantages because they use your own tissue, potentially require fewer repeat treatments, and harness your body's natural regenerative abilities.

Important Limitations to Consider

This was a small observational study without a comparison group. Ten patients cannot prove a treatment works—they can only suggest it might be worth studying further. Without a control group, we cannot know whether improvements came from the treatment itself or other factors like the placebo effect.

The follow-up period varied between patients (six to sixteen months), making it harder to compare results. Additionally, the researchers did not report detailed numerical outcomes from the questionnaires, limiting our ability to understand exactly how much symptoms improved.

If you are considering this treatment, discuss these limitations with your doctor. Ask about larger studies that may have been published since 2020 and whether the treatment is appropriate for your specific situation.

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Source: Stark et al., EMJ Urol, 2020.