Remote pelvic floor muscle training in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women

BACKGROUND: Stress urinary incontinence in women is a common condition that can develop at a young age and, even with mild severity, disrupts the quality of life. The first line of treatment for stress urinary incontinence is pelvic floor muscle training, which is the most effective in biofeedback mode. The low effectiveness of self-study is often associated with irregular and incorrect exercise.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of remote pelvic floor muscle training using the Tyulpan laser vaginal simulator under medical supervision in the treatment of mild and moderate stress urinary incontinence in women of reproductive and perimenopausal age, and to develop a predictive model for evaluating the effectiveness of treatment by this method.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined 48 patients aged 41.3 ± 6.8 years (26–55) with complaints of mild to moderate stress urinary incontinence. After general clinical and special studies (analysis of seven-day urination diaries, King’s questionnaire and Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12), urethrovesical segment ultrasound examination), a remote course of treatment was started using the Tyulpan laser vaginal simulator under medical supervision via videoconference for 35 patients within three months. The participants were re-examined one, three and four to six months after the start of the pelvic floor muscle training course.

RESULTS: The training course was fully completed by 25 participants. After one month of remote pelvic floor muscle training, according to urination diaries, a decrease in the number of stress urinary incontinence episodes was noted by 64.0% of patients and the absence of stress urinary incontinence episodes by 28.0% of patients (p < 0.001); after three months of remote pelvic floor muscle training, by 32.0% and 68.0% of patients, respectively (p < 0.001). A negative cough test after one month was detected in 62.5% of the participants (p = 0.002) and, after four to six months with the continuation of independent pelvic floor muscle training, in 81.9% of patients (p = 0.003). According to the ROC-analysis, the absence of stress urinary incontinence episodes was predicted when the amplitude of the simulator laser beam was greater than or equal to 90 cm (sensitivity 84.0%, specificity 96.0%; p < 0.001). Distance learning under medical supervision had a positive impact on the quality of life and relationships with a partner and improved the women’s psychological well-being (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Remote pelvic floor muscle training is effective in women of reproductive and perimenopausal age with mild to moderate stress urinary incontinence who are able to contract their pelvic floor muscles and perform regular exercises. The effectiveness of the training course is 68.0% according to urination diaries and 81.9% according to the cough test. The absence of stress urinary incontinence episodes is predicted when the amplitude of the simulator laser beam is greater than or equal to 90 cm.