Efficacy of intravaginal electrical stimulation added to bladder training in women with idiopathic overactive bladder: A prospective randomized controlled trial

• Published in: International Brazilian Journal of Urology 2021-11, Vol.47 (6), p.1150-1159
• Main Authors: Yildiz, Necmettin, Alkan, Hakan, Sarsan, Ayse
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Controlled Clinical Trial [Publication Type]; Electric Stimulation Therapy; Original; Urinary Bladder, Overactive
• ISSN: 1677-5538; 1677-6119
• DOI: 10.1590/s1677-5538.ibju.2021.0161

ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of intravaginal electrical stimulation (IVES) added to bladder training (BT) on incontinence-related quality of life (QoL) and clinical parameters in women with idiopathic overactive bladder (OAB). Materials and Methods: Sixty-two women with idiopathic OAB were randomized into two groups using the random numbers generator as follows: Group 1 received BT alone (n:31), and Group 2 received BT+IVES (n:31). IVES was performed for twenty minutes three days a week over a course of eight weeks for a total of 24 sessions. Patients were evaluated in terms of incontinence severity (24-hour pad test), pelvic floor muscles strength (perineometer), 3-day voiding diary (frequency of voiding, nocturia, incontinence episodes and number of pads), symptom severity (OAB-V8), incontinence-related QoL (IIQ-7), treatment success (positive response rate), cure/improvement rate and treatment satisfaction (Likert scale). Results: A statistically significant improvement was found in all parameters for all groups at the end of the treatment compared to the baseline values except pelvic floor muscles strength in Group 1 (p