New concept for treating female stress urinary incontinence with radiofrequency

To evaluate the clinical response and adverse effects of radiofrequency on the urethral meatus in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women.

This phase one study included ten women with Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI). The evaluation consisted of 1 hour Pad tests to quantify urine loss and to assess the degree of procedure satisfaction by using the Likert scale. To evaluate safety, we observed the number of referred side effects.

Average age was 53.10 years±7.08 years. In assessing the final Pad Test, 70% showed a reduction and 30% a worsening of urinary loss. Using the Pad Test one month later, there was a reduction in all patients (p=0.028). The degree of satisfaction was 90% and no side effects have been observed. One patient reported burning sensation.

The treatment of SUI with radiofrequency on the urethral meatus has no adverse effects, being a low risk method that reduces urinary loss in women. However, to increase the validity of the study, larger clinical trials are warranted.

International braz j urol : official journal of the Brazilian Society of Urology. 2017 Jun 14 [Epub ahead of print]

Patrícia Lordelo, Andrea Vilas Boas, Danielle Sodré, Amanda Lemos, Sibele Tozetto, Cristina Brasil

Centro de Atenção ao Piso Pélvico (CAAP), Divisão de Fisioterapeutas e Pós-Graduação, Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública (EBMSP), BA, Brasil., Centro de Atenção ao Piso Pélvico (CAAP), Divisão de Programas de Ginecologia e Pós-Graduação, Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública (EBMSP), BA, Brasil., Divisão de Ciências Morfofuncionais, Universidade Federal do Recôncavo Baiano, BA, Brasil.