Long-term intravaginal electrical stimulation in urge and stress incontinence.

Using a new device for intravaginal electrical stimulation (IVS), 24 women with pure stress incontinence, mixed urge and stress incontinence or urge incontinence due to detrusor instability, were treated. To minimize mechanical discomfort, the electrode carrier was made of flexible material and inflatable. Furthermore, this design facilitated fixed, constant positioning of the electrodes at individually tested sites to produce maximum response at voltage well tolerated by the patient. The stimulation frequency was adjusted to suit the cause of incontinence: 20 to 50 Hz in stress incontinence, 10 Hz detrusor instability. The electrode carrier was well accepted. Seven of the 9 patients with pure stress incontinence became continent during IVS. Three of them have so far remained continent for 2 to 8 months without IVS. The 15 patients with detrusor instability or mixed incontinence were all free from symptoms after IVS for more than 3 months. Two of them have remained cured for more than 3 months after they had stopped IVS.