Red Light Therapy for Menopause Relief
Menopause: The Hot Flashy Truth (and How Red Light Therapy Can Help)
Menopause isn’t just about saying goodbye to periods. It’s a full-body (and mind!) transition that can catch even the most wellness-savvy woman off guard. One day you’re cruising through your to-do list, and the next, you’re wide awake at 3am, wondering if you’re losing your mind, or just your estrogen. From aches and brain fog to the joy that is vaginal dryness, this season of life comes with its own greatest hits playlist of symptoms.
Here are just a few common complaints during menopause:
Brain fog and forgetfulness
Mood swings and low motivation
Vaginal dryness or discomfort
Joint pain and stiffness (hello, frozen shoulder)
Cold feet and poor circulation
Sleep disruptions
Weight gain and slower metabolism
Fatigue that coffee can’t touch
Dull, thinning skin
And while some treatments involve hormones or medications, many women are looking for a natural, side-effect-free way to support their body, and that’s where red light therapy (also known as photobiomodulation or PBM) steps in. By supporting your mitochondria, the energy centers in every cell, red and near-infrared light can help reduce inflammation, boost circulation, rebalance mood, ease joint pain, and even support vaginal and pelvic health.
In this blog, we’ll walk through how to use PBM for everything from brain fog to frozen shoulder, so you can move through this transition with more ease, energy, and confidence.
Can Light Help Where Hormones Can’t?
Let’s get right to it.
If you’re in menopause and can’t take hormone therapy, maybe because of a hormone-sensitive cancer, a personal decision, or medical advice, you already know that “natural” doesn’t always mean “easy.”
The vaginal dryness, the painful sex, the burning, the bladder urgency. These aren’t minor annoyances. For many women, they’re quality-of-life disruptors. And the usual go-to (local estrogen)may be off the table for you.
So where does that leave you and millions of women like you? No place helpful that’s for sure.
Here’s something most women haven’t been told: light can help.
More specifically, photobiomodulation therapy (PBM) - a non-invasive, non-hormonal, evidence-informed therapy that’s changing the conversation around menopause.
What is genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM)?
First, we need to name what’s happening. The symptoms you’re dealing with fall under the umbrella of genitourinary syndrome of menopause, or GSM. This includes:
Vaginal dryness and irritation
Painful intercourse
Loss of elasticity and thinning tissue (including atrophy of the vulval tissues)
Bladder urgency or frequent infections
Over half of postmenopausal women experience these symptoms, and for those who can’t use HRT, the usual treatment pathway often ends in a shrug.
That’s where Red Light Therapy comes in.
What is photobiomodulation?
Photobiomodulation is the use of specific wavelengths of light, most commonly red and near-infrared to stimulate healing and reduce inflammation in the body’s tissues. It’s widely used in sports medicine, chronic pain, wound healing, and yes, increasingly in women’s pelvic health. Unlike laser resurfacing or ablative procedures, PBM doesn’t damage the tissue. Instead, it delivers energy that your cells can actually use to function better.
So how can light possibly help with vaginal health in menopause?
How PBM works without hormones
1. It boosts your cellular energy production
PBM targets mitochondria - the energy factories inside your cells. Red and near-infrared light stimulate an enzyme called cytochrome c oxidase, which increases ATP (cellular energy) production. This gives your cells the fuel they need to repair and regenerate, even when estrogen is low or absent.
2. It improves blood flow
PBM helps release nitric oxide, which dilates blood vessels and increases microcirculation in the tissue. More blood flow means more oxygen, better hydration, and improved nutrient delivery - key for reversing the dryness and tissue thinning that comes with GSM.
3. It stimulates collagen without needing estrogen
In premenopausal women, estrogen helps maintain collagen and tissue integrity. In its absence, tissues weaken. But PBM activates fibroblasts directly, the cells responsible for making collagen - triggering new collagen production and strengthening the tissue naturally.
4. It calms inflammation
PBM downregulates inflammatory markers like cytokines. That’s huge when dealing with inflamed, irritated vaginal tissues. Less inflammation means less pain and a more receptive environment for healing.
5. It restores moisture from within
By improving the health and structure of the epithelial lining and increasing microvascular activity, PBM supports your body’s ability to produce and retain its own lubrication - not just mask symptoms with an external product.
What does the research say?
Let’s start with lasers. Here’s what you need to know: non-ablative laser PBM is emerging as a promising therapy for GSM, especially for women who can’t take estrogen. Let’s break down what studies are finding.
1. Non-Ablative Diode Laser (Dual Wavelength)
In a 2024 pilot study, 22 postmenopausal women who couldn’t use hormone therapy received three sessions of non-ablative diode laser treatment. Results showed significant improvements in vaginal dryness, irritation, pain with sex, and overall quality of life - with no adverse effects reported (Gambacciani et al., 2024).
2. Solid-State Vaginal Laser (SSVL)
A study of 90 women showed that a non-ablative laser called SSVL improved vaginal histology and GSM symptoms. Biopsies revealed thicker vaginal tissue and more collagen, and women also reported improvements in sexual comfort and function (de Seta et al., 2023).
3. 1470 nm Solid-State Laser
In another study using a 1470 nm laser 18 postmenopausal women with GSM and vulvodynia experienced significant relief. There was no tissue damage, bleeding, or discomfort, highlighting its safety as well as its effectiveness (Filippini et al., 2023).
4. Non-Ablative Er:YAG Laser
A smaller study using non-ablative laser showed positive histological changes, thicker epithelial lining and increased vascularity in women who had severe GSM. All patients experienced symptom relief without adverse effects (Salvatore et al., 2020).
Vaginal atrophy in menopause.
These are all laser photobiomodulation studies (but there is growing evidence for LED use too).
A preliminary Brazilian study was recently conducted to explore the feasibility of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) combined with photobiomodulation using an LED device. In this protocol, women with (GSM) underwent PFMT followed by PBM with an LED-based system. The intervention involved a red, low-intensity light at a wavelength of 660 nm, with a radiant exposure of 25 J/cm², delivered continuously for 450 seconds. This study demonstrates that LED-based devices are being actively investigated for the management of GSM symptoms.
While many clinical trials and protocols focus on laser-based PBM (such as those using 808 nm diode lasers), this research highlights that LED technology is also being applied in clinical settings for similar therapeutic goals.
How the Fringe Heals Wand Compares to Other Photobiomodulation Devices
The Fringe Heals Light Therapy Wand stands out for several reasons when compared to devices featured in clinical research, such as the Fluence Maxx-HTM® used in recent studies.
Key Differences and Features
LED Configuration and Wavelengths:
The Fringe Wand uses 117 LEDs, delivering three different wavelengths: red (630 nm), near-infrared (830 nm), and blue (415 nm). This combination is designed to address tissue rejuvenation, deep tissue healing, and microbiome balance. In contrast, many clinical devices, like the Fluence Maxx-HTM®, use fewer LEDs and a single red wavelength (660 nm).Energy Delivery:
The Fringe Wand offers adjustable light intensity (20 - 40 mW/cm²), with sessions typically lasting 10 minutes. Clinical devices may deliver a higher, fixed energy dose (e.g., 25 J/cm² over 450 seconds), but the Fringe Wand’s settings are designed for comfort and safety, especially for sensitive tissues.User Experience:
The Fringe Wand is wireless, waterproof, and includes optional vibration therapy for the pelvic floor - features not always available in clinical devices. Its built-in timer and multiple modes make it user-friendly for at-home use.Versatility:
The Fringe Wand is marketed for a wide range of pelvic health concerns, from menopause symptoms to incontinence and recurrent infections. Its blue light mode is specifically chosen for gentle antimicrobial effects without disrupting the vaginal microbiome, a feature not always present in clinical devices.
The Fringe Light Therapy Wand is a consumer-friendly, multi-modal device that brings together the benefits of red, near-infrared, and blue light therapy with the added comfort of vibration. While clinical devices are standardized for research and medical settings, the Fringe Wand is designed for accessibility, ease of use, and broad-spectrum pelvic health support, making it a compelling option for women seeking non-hormonal solutions for menopause symptoms at home
Why this matters for women who can’t take HRT (or prefer not to).
For women recovering from cancer or managing chronic conditions, hormone therapy may never be an option. And that can feel like hitting a dead end. PBM changes the story. It offers a gentle, non-hormonal, non-invasive way to support tissue health where it matters most. It’s not a quick fix, and it’s not a replacement for hormones, but it is a viable, safe, and empowering alternative when hormones aren’t on the table.
Photobiomodulation is still emerging in the menopause space, but the early evidence is clear: it’s not just about treating symptoms. It’s about restoring confidence, comfort, and connection, without medication, without downtime, and without compromising safety.
If you’re feeling sidelined by GSM and haven’t found relief, this is your invitation to look into PBM. It’s not woo or another weird health craze. It’s real, body-supporting biology that’s finally catching up to women’s real needs.
You don’t have to just deal with it. You deserve more options, and now you have one.
My Lady Bits Are Fine - But My Joints Are The Drama
Okay, so your lady parts are hanging in there like champs - but your joints? They’ve clearly started a rebellion. One minute you're reaching for a jar of peanut butter and the next your shoulder's staging a protest. Sound familiar? Enter your new best friend: the flexible red/NIR light therapy pad. This little miracle worker is your all-in-one menopause sidekick. Wrap it around cold feet like cozy red light boots to crank up circulation and warmth (because icy toes are not the vibe). Or use it on those unpredictable moody joints, frozen shoulder, cranky knees, stiff neck, you name it. Just wrap it around the area for 20 - 30 minutes a day or whenever your body throws a tantrum. The key? Pick a flexible pad that hugs your curves and gets that healing light right where it’s needed most (see my go-to recommendations). Bonus tip: using it before stretching or physical therapy can loosen things up and help you move like someone way younger than your birth certificate says.
If inserting a wand isn’t your thing (totally valid, by the way), you’ve still got options. Sitting on your NovaaLab pad can still deliver beneficial red and near-infrared light to the delicate vaginal tissues, supporting circulation, tissue health, and even hormonal balance from the outside in. For hygiene, just cover the pad with a layer of clear plastic wrap or a disposable barrier (like saran wrap) so you can use it comfortably (monitor for warmth).
Cranky knees, neck or chilly toes. The Novaalab wrap is an essential tool for your second act.
Brain Fog: Why Menopause Makes You Forget What You Walked Into the Room For
Brain fog during menopause isn’t just in your head (well, it is, but you know what we mean). As estrogen levels dip, so does its protective effect on the brain. Estrogen plays a key role in regulating neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, your brain’s mood and motivation messengers. When these fall out of balance, you may feel mentally sluggish, foggy, or emotionally off-center. Add in poor sleep, hot flashes, and juggling the never-ending to-do list, and it’s no wonder your brain starts buffering like a slow-loading webpage.
What you might not know is that red and near-infrared light therapy can help clear the fog. Research shows that PBM supports mitochondrial function in the brain, which boosts energy (ATP) production and improves blood flow, both essential for cognitive clarity. But it doesn’t stop there: early studies suggest PBM may also help balance serotonin and dopamine levels, which could explain why many women report improved mood, focus, and resilience after consistent use.
Wrapping your NovaaLab pad around your head or on the back of your neck for 15 - 20 minutes can gently stimulate these brain benefits. The back of the neck is especially powerful, it’s a gateway to the brainstem and vagus nerve, which influence everything from mood to hormone regulation. So the next time your sunglasses are on your head while you’re still searching for them, grab your light pad and give your brain a little glow-up.
Home Device Wands - Compare the Joylux wand with Fringe
Fringe Heals stands out as the only wand in this comparison that includes near-infrared (NIR) light, offering deep tissue penetration and potential for enhanced therapeutic benefits beyond surface-level treatment. Joylux uses only red light, focusing on surface-level effects. There have also been concerns expressed on social media due to the heating element causing irritation.
Purchase your Fringe Wand here.
Home LED devices for intimate care.
Use my link and code (SOLASTA10) to get your device for $375.
Prefer a professional touch? If you'd rather not DIY your red light therapy, you’re welcome to book a session in my office at Solasta. We use advanced clinical-grade laser technology tailored to your specific needs, so you can relax and let the light do the work.
References and Further Reading
Gambacciani, M., et al. (2024). Non-ablative dual-wavelength diode laser therapy for GSM in women contraindicated for HRT: A prospective pilot study. Advances in Therapy. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12325-024-03004-7
de Seta, F., et al. (2023). Histological and clinical impact of solid-state vaginal laser on postmenopausal GSM: Observational study. European Academic Research. https://euacademic.org/UploadArticle/5509.pdf
Filippini, M., et al. (2023). Ladylift® non-ablative laser technology for treatment of menopausal vestibulodynia and GSM. Academia.edu. https://www.academia.edu/101568253/
Salvatore, S., et al. (2020). Non-ablative erbium:YAG laser improves histology and symptoms in women with severe GSM. Post Reproductive Health. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/13697137.2020.1764525
