[An International Urogynecological Association (IUGA)/International Continence Society (ICS) joint report on the terminology for the conservative and non-pharmacological management of female pelvic floor dysfunction]

Clinical Observation of Acupuncture Combined with Biofeedback Electrical Stimulation in the Treatment of Female Stress Urinary Incontinence

To investigate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture combined with biofeedback electrical stimulation on female stress urinary incontinence. Ninety patients diagnosed in a hospital between January 2020 and January 2021 were randomly divided into three groups (A, B and C). Group A was treated with biofeedback electrical stimulation, 3 times a week for 30 min for 15 times. Group B used acupuncture treatment, including Guanyuan, Qihai, Zhongji, Zusanli, Sanyinjiao and Yinlingquan, once a day, Monday-Friday, 30 min each, for a total of 10 times. Group C was treated with acupuncture combined with biofeedback electrical stimulation. All three groups were combined with pelvic floor muscle training. Following treatment, the changes in class I and II muscle fibre strength, ICI-Q-SF score and urine leakage in the 1-hour pad test were compared. Prior to treatment, there was no significant difference in the general data of the three patient groups, as well as class I and II muscle fibre strength, ICI-Q-SF score and 1-hour urinary pad test (P > 0.05). Following treatment, class I and II muscle fibre strength in groups A and C improved compared with before, with statistical significance (P < 0.05); there was no significant difference in group B (P > 0.05). In the three groups, ICI-Q-SF scores and 1-hour urinary pad test results were lower compared with before (P < 0.05), with those in group C better than those in groups A and B (P < 0.05). The treatment efficiency of the three patient groups was 86.7%, 83.3% and 96.7%, respectively. Combined acupuncture and biofeedback electrical stimulation can improve pelvic floor muscle strength, urine leakage and quality of life, and can be superior to biofeedback and acupuncture treatment alone.

Motivations, psychosocial burdens, and decision-making modes of post-partum women with stress urinary incontinence engaging in pelvic floor physical therapy: a qualitative research

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

This qualitative research explores the motivations, psychosocial burdens, and decision-making modes of post-partum women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) engaging in pelvic floor physical therapy (PFPT).

METHODS

This study was conducted face-to-face in a treatment room using qualitative semi-structured interviews with post-partum women who received PFPT for SUI between May and October 2022. Participant interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed using NVivo software, which is most commonly used for qualitative data analysis.

RESULTS

Themes that impacted participants' decisions to receive PFPT included avoiding deterioration of SUI symptoms, believing that the sooner it is treated the better, being unable to adhere to home exercise programs, and dissatisfaction with quality of life. Some participants experienced psychosocial burdens when receiving PFPT, including impact on daily activities, worries about the baby, financial burdens, and uncertainty about the effect. There were two modes of decision making, which brought different experiences. Some participants preferred participant-provider shared decision making and reported effective doctor-patient communication, and striving for autonomous decisions. Other participants preferred their clinicians to decide on PFPT protocols in view of their trust in their midwives, institutional reputation, and lacking knowledge of PFPT.

CONCLUSIONS

We discovered that participants had both motivations and psychosocial burdens when receiving therapy. Some participants preferred participant-provider shared decision making, whereas others preferred their midwives to make decisions. Further more standardized studies with more robust samples are needed.

Spanish Cross-Cultural Adaptation of the Australian Pelvic Floor Questionnaire

The main objectives of this study were to carry out the translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Australian Pelvic Floor Questionnaire (APFQ) into Spanish and the evaluation of its psychometric properties of validity and reliability in the Spanish population. The APFQ was translated into Spanish and back-translated into its original language by native speakers; it was verified that there was a semantic similarity. A pilot test was carried out on a group of 10 women. The study sample was made up of 104 subjects. They were asked to fill in the APFQ twice, 15 days apart. Codes were assigned so they could link to the test and retest. The Questionnaire on Pelvic Floor Dysfunctions-short version (PFDI-20) and the Women's Sexual Function Questionnaire (FSM) were also completed. The reliability, criterion and construct validity, and stability were studied. A Cronbach's alpha of 0.795 was obtained from the complete questionnaire. For each dimension, Cronbach's alpha was 0.864 for bladder function; 0.796 for bowel function; 0.851 for prolapse; and 0.418 for sexual function (0.67 with the suppression of item 37). The APFQ shows a significant correlation with PFDI-20 in urinary function (rho: 0.704, p = 0.000), intestinal function (rho: 0.462, p = 0.000), and prolapse symptoms (rho: 0.337, p = 0.000). The test-retest analysis showed high reproducibility. The Spanish version of the APFQ is a reliable and valid tool to assess symptoms and impacts on quality of life due to pelvic floor dysfunctions in the Spanish population. However, a review of some of its items could increase its reliability.

Magnitude of Symptomatic Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and Associated Factors Amongst Women in Western Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

The goal of this research was to determine the extent of pelvic floor dysfunction and the factors that contribute to it. The study design was community-focused and cross-sectional, and participants were chosen using a systematic random sampling technique. For data entry and cleansing, we used EPI data version 3.1 software, and for analysis, we used Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26. The 95% confidence interval was predicted, and the factor with a significant level less than 0.05 was chosen for multivariate logistic regression analysis. The overall Magnitude of pelvic floor dysfunction was 37.7% [(95% confidence interval (31.7-42.5)]. The most common type of pelvic floor dysfunction is overactive bladder, which was reported by 135 of all participants. Pelvic organ prolapse accounted for 92 (30.4%) of all cases, and 4 factors were found to be significantly associated with pelvic floor dysfunction. In this study, age 55 years [(AOR = 2.1; 95% CI: (1.52-6.42)], heavy labor work for more than 10 years [(AOR = 3.21; 95% CI: (1.86-5.72) grand-multipara, and being menopause [(AOR = 4.03; 95% CI: (2.20-8.27)] were linked to symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction. The magnitude of pelvic floor dysfunction in this study was slightly higher than in Ethiopian studies. Pelvic floor dysfunction has been linked to heavy load lifting, low socioeconomic status, recurrent vaginal deliveries, chronic cough, and menopause. Screening and treatment of pelvic floor disorders should be prioritized in collaboration with regional and zonal health departments.

Impact of combined usage of questionnaire forms with bladder diary for overactive bladder syndrome

PURPOSE

Bladder diary and questionnaire forms have an important role in the diagnosis of overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome and can predict response to OAB treatment. We aimed to evaluate the correlation between three different validated Turkish OAB questionnaires and bladder diary form.

METHODS

Patients aged over 18 years who admitted to the urology outpatient clinic with OAB symptoms between March 2019 and April 2020 were enrolled into the study. Demographic data of the patients were recorded, and they were asked to complete a 3-days bladder diary. In addition, the patients filled Turkish validated OAB version-8 (OABv8), the International Consultation of Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF), and OAB Symptom Score (OABSS) questionnaire. The relationship between these questionnaire forms and bladder diary was evaluated with statistical analysis. The significant p was p < 0.05.

RESULTS

A total of 592 patients were included in the study. The mean total points of the questionnaire forms were 22.07 ± 8.34 (0-38) for OABv8, 10.78 ± 7.21 (0-21) for ICIQ-SF, and 9.36 ± 3.53 (0-15) for OABSS, respectively. There was a positive poor correlation between OABv8 questionnaire form and nocturia (r = 0.287, p = 0.013). There was a positive moderate correlation between OABSS and the number of micturition (r = 0.405, p = 0.03) and nocturia (r = 0.508, p = 0.036), and the urgency incontinence was negatively moderate correlations (r = -0.525, p = 0.041).

CONCLUSION

Both questionnaire forms and bladder diaries are important in the evaluation of OAB patients. According to our results the bladder diary and OABSS questionnaire forms were interrelated.

Pelvic-floor function, dysfunction, and treatment

The pelvic floor functions as a holistic entity. The organs, bladder, bowel, smooth and striated muscles, nerves, ligaments and other connective tissues are directed cortically and reflexly from various levels of the nervous system. Such holistic integration is essential for the system's multiple functions, for example, pelvic girdle stability, continence, voiding/defecation, and sexuality. Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) is related to a variety of pelvic pain syndromes and organ problems of continence and evacuation. Prior to treatment, it is necessary to understand which part(s) of the system may be causing the dysfunction (s) of Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS), pelvic girdle pain, sexual problems, Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS), dysfunctional voiding, constipation, prolapse and incontinence. The interpretation of pelvic floor biomechanics is complex and involves multiple theories. Non-surgical treatment of PFD requires correct diagnosis and correctly supervised pelvic floor training. The aims of this review are to analyze pelvic function and dysfunction. Because it is a holistic and entirely anatomically based system, we have accorded significant weight to the Integral Theory's explanations of function and dysfunction.

The Effect of Panax ginseng on Genitourinary Syndrome in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND

Menopause and estrogen deprivation cause a rise in the number of urogenital tract complaints.

OBJECTIVE

This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of ginseng on genitourinary syndrome.

METHODS

This randomized trial was conducted on 60 postmenopausal women with genitourinary syndrome. The participants were randomly allocated to ginseng and placebo groups twice daily for 4 weeks. Vaginal maturation index and vaginal pH were evaluated before and 4 weeks after intervention as the primary outcomes. Also, the atrophic vaginitis and incontinence questionnaires were completed before and after intervention as the secondary outcomes. The safety of intervention was assessed by the side effects checklist.

RESULTS

No significant differences were observed between the 2 groups in objective symptoms after the intervention, but the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001) in terms of subjective symptoms of atrophic vaginitis. One case of insomnia and palpitation and 2 cases of hot flashes were reported in the intervention group, and 1 case of gastric discomfort and change in urine appearance was reported in the placebo group.

CONCLUSION

Ginseng only improved the patient-assessed symptoms and had no significant effect on the clinician-assessed outcomes. Further studies are required to determine the precise pharmacological mechanisms of ginseng on genitourinary syndrome.

Verbal instruction to obtain voluntary pelvic floor muscle contraction: Acceptability, and understanding

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to describe verbal instructions used to obtain a voluntary pelvic floor muscle contraction and to evaluate their understanding and acceptability.

METHODS

This prospective study led in two phases. A questionnaire was submitted to experts to collect the most frequently used instructions to obtain a PFMC. Then a questionnaire was submitted to subjects in order to: estimate the pelvic floor anatomical knowledge; estimate understanding and acceptability of these instructions; select the best instruction.

RESULTS

First phase: 46 experts proposed 356 instructions. Forty-four percent were functional instructions ("hold a gas"), 40% anatomical ("squeeze your anus") and 16% allied both. Fifteen instructions for the women and 11 for the men were selected. Second phase: 33 subjects completed the questionnaire. More than 75% had correct answers for anatomical knowledge. The instructions judged by the subjects as the most adapted to obtain a PFMC were: "contract the anus", "do as if you wanted to hold a strong desire to void". The items including "perineum" or "vagina" were less understood.

CONCLUSIONS

The more understandable and acceptable instruction to assess the PFMC is the association of two simple instructions: one anatomical and one functional.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4.

[Benefits of pelvic floor education in perineal re-education in women]

AIM

Evaluate the impact of pelvic floor education on the symptoms of female patients referred for pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT).

METHODS

Forty female patients suffering from pelvic floor disorders and referred to independent practice for PFME between February and May 2019 answered a survey on symptoms and quality of life before PFME, after four sessions of pelvic floor education and at the end of PFME. The ICIQ-SF, USP, Contilife, PDFI 20, Kess, and Wexner scores were used to evaluate the results. The protocol consisted in four initial sessions of pelvic floor education including information on each field of perineology ; the fifth session was dedicated to visual feedback using a mirror ; the following five sessions were tailored according to the care objectives established based on the initial assessment.

RESULTS

The scores were significantly improved after the four initial sessions of pelvic floor education. The improvement was significant at the end of the re-education program. The PFDI-20 score dropped from 66,9 to 20,9 (P=0,002), the ICIQ-SF score from 8,4 to 1,5 (P<10^-3), the Wexner score from 7,4 to 5,1 (P<10^-3) and the Kess score from 14,2 to 8,7 (P=0,05).

CONCLUSION

The results showed that female patients undergoing perineal re-education including pelvic floor education sessions show a significant improvement in their symptoms already immediately after the pelvic floor education sessions.