RESPONSE TO THE AUTHORS “Intravaginal eletrical stimulation for bladder training method” by Cássio L. Z. Riccetto, 2021

To the editor,

While bladder training has long been a first-line treatment for women with overactive bladder syndrome (¹, ²), its effectiveness as an isolated treatment is still somewhat controversial in the literature. In the prospective randomized study presented by Yildiz et al. (³), the combined use of intravaginal electrical stimulation plus bladder training determined a significant improvement in the overall success of the treatment of overactive bladder syndrome in women in comparison to Bladder training alone. We agree with the authors that the aim of their study was not to evaluate intravaginal electrical stimulation as an isolated method of treatment for an overactive bladder. In this regard, despite the widespread use of electrical stimulation techniques as pelvic floor rehabilitation strategies, its effectiveness as an isolated method is still controversial, as also referenced in the article (⁴). In fact, it is somewhat complicated to study the isolated effects of electrostimulation techniques for voiding dysfunctions, as the therapist's explanations about the treatment can also influence the patient's perception of their effects. We congratulate the authors for the initiative, highlighting the trend towards a multimodal approach to the treatment of overactive bladder syndrome in women (⁵).

The Author

REFERENCES

• ¹
  Gormley EA, Lightner DJ, Burgio KL, Chai TC, Clemens JQ, Culkin DJ, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of overactive bladder (non-neurogenic) in adults: AUA/SUFU guideline. J Urol. 2012;188(6 Suppl):2455-63.
• ²
  Lightner DJ, Gomelsky A, Souter L, Vasavada SP. Diagnosis and Treatment of Overactive Bladder (Non-Neurogenic) in Adults: AUA/SUFU Guideline Amendment 2019. J Urol. 2019;202:558-63.
• ³
  Yildiz N, Alkan H, Sarsan A. Efficacy of intravaginal electrical stimulation added to bladder training in women with idiopathic overactive bladder: A prospective randomized controlled trial. Int Braz J Urol. 2021;47:1150-9.
• ⁴
  Jerez-Roig J, Souza DL, Espelt A, Costa-Marín M, Belda-Molina AM. Pelvic floor electrostimulation in women with urinary incontinence and/or overactive bladder syndrome: a systematic review. Actas Urol Esp. 2013;37:429-44.
• ⁵
  Yildiz N. “Intravaginal eletrical stimulation for bladder training method” by Cássio L. Z. Riccetto, 2021. Int Braz J Urol. 2022; 48: 373-4

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  11 Mar 2022
• Date of issue
  Mar-Apr 2022

History

• Received
  28 Dec 2021
• Accepted
  05 Jan 2022
• Published
  10 Jan 2022