BACKGROUND Although available evidence relating to its effectiveness is weak, acupuncture is used as an alternative therapy for stress urinary incontinence. We report a protocol of a randomized controlled trial using electroacupuncture (the passing of a weak current between inserted acupuncture needles) to treat women with pure stress urinary incontinence. METHODS/DESIGN This is a large-scale...

This article reviews progress made in understanding the causes of stress urinary incontinence. Over the last century, several hypotheses have been proposed to explain stress urinary incontinence. These theories are based on clinical observations and focus primarily on the causative role of urethral support loss and an open vesical neck. Recently these hypotheses have been tested by comparing me...

One thousand and sixty women aged 18 or over, randomly selected from a defined geographical area in South Wales, were interviewed at home about their urinary symptoms. Ninety-five per cent co-operated, of whom 45% admitted to some degree of incontinence. "Stress' incontinence was reported by 22% of women, "urge' incontinence by 10%, and both types combined--"complex'--by 14%. In most women urin...

BACKGROUND In women with mixed urinary incontinence, pelvic floor muscle training and solifenacin is the recommended conservative treatment, while electroacupuncture is a safe, economical and effective option. METHODS/DESIGN In this prospective, multi-center, randomized controlled trial, five hundred women with mixed urinary incontinence, from 10 centers will be randomized to receive either e...

Hypotheses that might explain urinary incontinence during pregnancy and after childbirth have been examined. The prevalence of urinary incontinence reaches a maximum during pregnancy and decreases after childbirth. Cesarean delivery is associated with lower rates of stress incontinence than vaginal delivery. Women delivered by cesarean section differ from women who had a vaginal delivery throug...

Background Urinary Incontinence is a common condition defined as an involuntary leakage of urine. Women are twice as likely to be affected as men, and prevalence increases with age. The severity of incontinence affects quality of life and treatment decisions. The types of urinary incontinence include stress, urge, overflow, functional, and postprostatectomy incontinence. Nonsurgical treatment o...

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of asymptomatic urethral caruncle (UC) on micturition in women suffering from urinary incontinence. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 232 patients participated in the study. UC was diagnosed in 50 of 232 patients with urinary incontinence during a physical examination in our clinic. All cases were divided into 2 groups: UC combined with ...

OBJECTIVE To assess the role of anal sphincter damage following delivery in the development of anorectal complaints and urinary incontinence, and to identify obstetric factors associated with subsequent fecal incontinence. METHODS The retrospective cohort study with matched controls used a postal questionnaire and analysis of delivery and operation records from all women who underwent primary...