ISSN 0300-9092 (Print)
ISSN 2412-5679 (Online)

Photodynamic therapy as a promising method of organ-sparing treatment for various benign gynecological diseases

Gromova T.A., Levakov S.A., Ishbaeva D.I.

I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a therapeutic procedure that has a cytotoxic effect on pathological cells by activating photosensitizers through exposure to light, thereby generating reactive oxygen species.
This review presents an analysis of clinical studies demonstrating the efficacy and safety of PDT in various benign gynecological diseases, as well as its organ-sparing potential, which is particularly important for patients of reproductive age. The advantages of combined protocols including PDT alongside other technologies are described; these protocols make it possible to increase the rate of complete remission and reduce the risk of relapse. PDT is a highly effective method for relieving subjective symptoms and has a high safety profile, which contributes to an improvement in patients’ quality of life and their satisfaction with the treatment. This method has been shown to result in rapid tissue regeneration while maintaining their anatomical and physiological characteristics. In most cases, the use of PDT is associated with the development of mild side effects (increased vaginal discharge or a burning / tingling sensation). No adverse effects on patients’ reproductive capacity have been observed, suggesting that it may also be used during the reproductive years.
Conclusion. PDT is therefore regarded as a promising avenue for improving treatment outcomes among female patients with various gynecological diseases. However, further research is required to standardize treatment protocols and assess the long-term prospects.

Authors’ contributions. Levakov S.A. – developing the concept of the article; Gromova T.A. – developing the concept of the article, editing the material, writing the text; Ishbaeva D.I. – collecting and processing the material, writing the text. 
Conflicts of interest. Authors declare lack of the possible conflicts of interests.
Funding. The study was conducted without sponsorship.
Generative Artificial Intelligence. No generative artificial intelligence technologies were used in the creation of this article. 
For citation: Gromova T.A., Levakov S.A., Ishbaeva D.I. Photodynamic therapy as 
a promising method of  organ-sparing treatment for various benign gynecological diseases.
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2026; (9): 40-48 (in Russian)
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2026.179

Keywords

photodynamic therapy
5-aminolevulinic acid
human papillomavirus
cervical dysplasia
vaginal intraepithelial lesions
vulvar lichen sclerosus

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Received 08.06.2026

Accepted 14.07.2026

About the Authors

Tatyana A. Gromova, PhD, Teaching Assistant at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, N.V. Sklifosovsky ICM, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia (Sechenov University), 119991, Russia, Moscow, Trubetskaya str., 8, build. 2, +7(495)609-14-00, tgromova928@yandex.ru,
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6104-9842
Sergey A. Levakov, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, N.V. Sklifosovsky ICM, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia (Sechenov University), 119991, Russia, Moscow, Trubetskaya str., 8, build. 2, +7(495)609-14-00, levakoff@yandex.ru,
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4591-838X
Ишбаева Дилфузахан Ишбаевна, аспирант кафедры акушерства и гинекологии ИКМ им. Н.В. Склифосовского Первого МГМУ им. И.М. Сеченова Минздрава России (Сеченовский Университет), 119991, г. Москва, ул. Трубецкая, д. 8, стр. 2, +7 (495) 609-14-00, dilfuza.ishbayeva@gmail.com, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1999-0273
Dilfuzakhan I. Ishbaeva, PhD student at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, N.V. Sklifosovsky ICM, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University,
Ministry of Health of Russia (Sechenov University), 119991, Russia, Moscow, Trubetskaya str., 8, build. 2, +7(495)609-14-00, dilfuza.ishbayeva@gmail.com,
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1999-0273
Corresponding author: Tatyana A. Gromova, tgromova928@yandex.ru

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