At-home ultrasound treatment for vaginal thinning and dryness
Official title: At-home, ultrasonic device for treatment of vulvovaginal atrophy
Funded at Madorra, INC. · NIH-11181160 · Data updated 2026-11-12
An at-home ultrasound device to relieve vaginal dryness, thinning, and pain for women with vulvovaginal atrophy after menopause or cancer treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Madorra, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $485,502 |
| NIH project number | 5R44HD115491-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11181160 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are postmenopausal women or breast cancer survivors experiencing vaginal dryness, thinning, pain with sex, or other symptoms of vulvovaginal atrophy who want a non-hormonal treatment option.
✕Less likely to help
Women who tolerate and prefer standard hormone therapy, or those with pelvic infections or other medical contraindications to device use, may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
This project develops a handheld ultrasonic device that women can use at home to stimulate vaginal tissue without hormones. The device is designed to improve blood flow and the condition of fragile, thin vaginal tissue that causes pain, dryness, and discomfort. The company plans to deliver the device to participants and monitor symptom changes and tissue improvements over time, with some in-person visits expected for screening and safety checks. The goal is a practical, non-hormonal option that could be used by postmenopausal women and breast cancer survivors who cannot or prefer not to use estrogen therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If it works, this could reduce pain, increase lubrication, and improve daily comfort and sexual function without using hormones.
How similar studies have gone: Energy-based vaginal treatments have shown mixed results and some safety concerns, and at-home ultrasonic treatment is a newer, less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Madorra, INC.
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rockweiler, Holly — Madorra, INC.
- Study coordinator: Rockweiler, Holly
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.