Pelvic floor electrical stimulation: a comparison of daily and every-other-day therapy for genuine stress incontinence.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the effectiveness of daily and every-other-day electrical stimulation in treating genuine stress incontinence.

METHODS

Subjects with genuine stress incontinence were enrolled in a multicenter, prospective, nonrandomized study and underwent daily or every-other-day pelvic floor stimulation treatments for 15 minutes twice a day. Outcome measures assessed were (1) leakage episodes and pad count; (2) leakage amount, and (3) subject subjective assessment and quality of life. Thirteen subjects treated daily and 15 treated every other day completed the 20-week protocol. One-year follow-up data were available for 21 subjects.

RESULTS

No significant differences in primary outcome variables were found between the groups. Subjects treated every other day had significant decreases in total leakage episodes (P = 0.04), pad count (P = 0.04), total voids (P = 0.02), and visual analog scale scores, with stress incontinence cured or improved by 50% in 73% (n = 11). Subjects treated every day had significant decreases in urge episodes (P = 0.03), pad count (P = 0.05), and visual analog scale scores, with 62% (n = 8) cured or improved by 50%. Compliance was higher for subjects treated every other day (P = 0.05). Satisfaction with therapy was 75% (n = 10) for daily treatment and 77% (n = 12) for every-other-day treatment. At 1 year, 70% (n = 7) of subjects who continued device use maintained their cure or improvement status.

CONCLUSIONS

Both daily and every-other-day therapy with pelvic floor electrical stimulation are effective in treating genuine stress incontinence. Subjects who continue device use maintain a higher curve or improvement rate.