Table 1. Study details and demographics.

First author	Country	Aims of the study	Study design	Sample size	Demographics and clinical details	Inclusion criteria
Becorpi et al [1]	Italy	To evaluate the effects of laser treatment on vaginal immune mediators and microbiome.	Prospective, non-randomised, uncontrolled.	20	mean age: 58.2 years, mean BMI: 23.7 kg/m2, mean age of menopause: 12.4 years, post menopause: 8.85 years.	Menopausal status and diagnosis of vaginal atrophy and previous breast CA.
Gambacciani (2017)	Italy	To evaluate the short-term efficacy and acceptability of a second-generation vaginal laser treatment for the management of GSM.	Prospective, non-randomised, uncontrolled.	43	mean age = 50.8 yrs (range: 38–70), age at menopause = 43.2 years (range: 31–55), post menopause: 9 years (range: 1–18).	Post-menopausal, breast CA survivors, suffering from GSM.
Gittens (2018)	USA	To examine the outcomes of sexual function in women with GSM symptoms post endocrine therapy for breast CA.	Prospective, non-randomised, uncontrolled.	8	Mean age = 55.2, mean age of menopause: 47.3, average duration of symptoms = 9.4 years, all treated with endocrine therapy, four patients still being treated during the course of the study.	Post-menopausal, breast cancer survivals, symptoms of GSM.
Mothes et al [13]	Germany	To evaluate the efficacy of dual-phase Er:YAG technology in atrophy-related urogynecological symptoms after prolapse surgery in patients after breast CA.	Retrospective, non-randomised, uncontrolled.	16	age: 71 years (SD = 7).	Breast CA survivors, following prolapse surgery, with pelvic floor symptoms related to vaginal atrophy.
Pagano (2016)	Italy	To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the CO2 laser technique for women with VVA.	Retrospective, non-randomised, uncontrolled.	26	age: 20–62 years, (median = 42) 1 woman was post-menopausal before starting chemo /hormonal therapy + received adjuvant antioestrogen therapy, 25 women had therapy-related menopause, 22 women: adjuvant chemotherapy.	Hormone-receptor positive breast cancer, VVA symptoms, post surgery.
Pieralli et al [22]	Italy	To assess the efficacy of fractional CO2 laser therapy for VVA dyspareunia.	Prospective, non-randomised, uncontrolled.	50	Mean age 53.3 years (range 41–66) no adjuvant therapy n = 28 adjuvant tamoxifen n = 20, adjuvant aromatase inhibitors n = 2. VHI evaluated in first 36 patients only.	Current or previous breast CA, Oncological menopause (mean time of menopause = 6.6 years, range 1–17) VVA, dyspareunia.