Effect of transcutaneous electrical stimulation on morphological characteristics of women with stress urinary incontinence

Abstract Background: Stress urinary incontinence is an involuntary leakage of urine due to a weak pelvic floor and weak sphincter when the intra-abdominal pressure increases. Its symptoms are known to improve upon electrical stimulation of the pelvic floor. This study aimed to determine the effects of transcutaneous electrical stimulation on ultrasonography variables, such as the bladder neck position (BNP), length of the urethra (LU), funneling index (FI), and posterior (PRT) and anterior rhabdosphincter thickness (ART), and the Incontinence Quality of Life scores. It also investigated the association between the relative changes in the two.Methods: Twenty-one patients with stress urinary continence were included and subjected to transcutaneous electrical stimulation for eight weeks. Ultrasonography was used to measure the BNP, LU, FI, ART, and PRT. Data were analyzed at rest and during the Valsalva maneuver and the difference (△) between them was evaluated.Results: The BNP during the Valsalva maneuver and the △BNP decreased significantly. The LU during the Valsalva maneuver increased after eight weeks. The FI during the Valsalva maneuver and the △FI changed significantly. The ART and PRT and the total quality of life score significantly increased after eight weeks (p<.05). The LU during the Valsalva maneuver positively correlated with the total quality of life (r=0.630; p=.002), psychosocial impact subscale (r=0.705; p=.000), and social embarrassment subscale (r=0.488; p=.025) scores. The correlations between the PRT and the avoidance and limiting behavior subscale score (r=0.624; p=.002) and between the △FI and the social embarrassment subscale score (r=-0.515; p=.0.20) were significant.Conclusions: Transcutaneous electrical stimulation can improve the BNP, ART, and PRT, along with the subjective indicators, in women with stress urinary continence. Improving stress urinary continence symptoms can ameliorate women’s social and psychological self-esteem.