Scientists from Londrina State University have found that vaginal electrical stimulation and transcutaneous electrical tibial nerve stimulation are effective in the treatment of overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) in women. The research was published in the journal Neurourology and Urodynamics.
The study included 69 women with OAB. Some had 12 sessions of vaginal electrical stimulation or transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the tibial nerve within six weeks. The severity of OAB was assessed using the ICIQ-OAB questionnaire, the discomfort scale, and urination diaries.
The researchers observed a significant reduction in ICIQ-OAB scores with both interventions. Scores decreased by an average of 4.2 points with vaginal electrical stimulation and by 3.8 points with transcutaneous stimulation.
Both methods were effective in improving quality of life and reducing discomfort while using the same stimulation parameters. However, in the case of transcutaneous stimulation, women reported longer-term improvement.