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Meta-Analysis
. 2023 Jun;34(6):1139-1152.
doi: 10.1007/s00192-022-05419-8. Epub 2023 Jan 21.

Sexual function after energy-based treatments of women with urinary incontinence. A systematic review and meta-analysis

Nádia Pavarini  1 , Ana L R Valadares  2 , Glaucia M Varella  1 , Luiz G O Brito  3 , Cássia R T Juliato  3 , Lúcia Costa-Paiva  3
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Sexual function after energy-based treatments of women with urinary incontinence. A systematic review and meta-analysis

Nádia Pavarini et al. Int Urogynecol J. 2023 Jun.

Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis: Urinary incontinence (UI) affects approximately 50% of adult women worldwide and is associated with declining sexual function (SF). Energy-based devices emerged as a minimally invasive alternative treatment. Nevertheless, their effect on sexuality is uncertain. We hypothesize that the UI energy treatment can lead to sexual function improvement.

Methods: A search was performed in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and nonrandomized studies of intervention, which treated incontinent women using energy, with UI and sexual function (SF) as outcomes. Severe comorbidities, pelvic organ prolapse (POP)> grade 2, and use of medication to treat UI or that affects SF were excluded. Quality assessment and meta-analysis were performed.

Results: From 322 articles, 11 RCTs were included for qualitative analysis. UI symptoms improved in all studies. Regarding SF, RCT with premenopausal women showed improvement in SF in the Er:Yag group (Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire-12 and Female Sexual Function Index). A prospective study showed improvement in SF independent of the grade of SUI. RF showed benefits for SF but was not superior to pelvic floor muscle training. One nonrandomized study of intervention with a High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic Field showed significant improvement of SF in the Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction total score, a decline in pain and dissatisfaction domains. Meta-analysis with 4 RCTs and 2 nonrandomized studies found no difference between groups (0.26 (95% CI -0.67 to 1.20, and -0.74 (95% CI -3.78 to 2.30) respectively).

Conclusions: This meta-analysis did not confirm that energy equipment improved the SF of women with UI.

Keywords: Laser therapy; Magnetic field therapy; Radiofrequency therapy; Sexual health; Systematic review; Urinary incontinence.

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