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Vaginal therapy of mild and moderate stress urinary incontinence using Er:YAG laser: a real treatment option

  • General Gynecology
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the effectiveness of vaginal Er:YAG laser as treatment in patients with mild or moderate stress urinary incontinence.

Methods

The study was a prospective, non-randomised, single center study of 33 women treated with two Er:YAG laser applications on an interval of four weeks. Follow-up evaluations were performed 4 and 8 weeks and 6 months after the first vaginal Er:YAG laser application (4 weeks and 5 months after the second vaginal Er:YAG laser application, respectively). The subjective outcomes were assessed using the International Consultation of Incontinence Modular Questionnaire Short Form (ICIQ-SF) and medical history. Patients rated their quality of life on a scale from 0 to 10.

Results

The average quality of life (QoL) showed a significant improvement 5 months after both Er:YAG laser applications. The mean QoL score was 6.0 (SD 2.4) and improved to a mean of 7.6 (SD 1.8) (p = 0.004). The mean ICIQ-SF score changed significantly from 12.3 (SD 3.2, median 13, range 8-18) before treatment to 6.8 (SD 4.0, median 7, range 0–15) 6 months after treatment (p <0.001). 24 patients out of 32 (75%) would again choose to have this therapy performed and 25 patients of 32 (78%) would recommend the vaginal Er:YAG laser therapy to a friend. The rate of side effects was low and none of the patients needed a medical treatment.

Conclusions

This study confirms that vaginal Er:YAG therapy can improve clinical and quality of life outcomes in patients with SUI.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Deparment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Tübingen, Calwerstrasse 7, 72076, Tübingen, Germany

    Christl Reisenauer, Sebastian Hartlieb, Birgitt Schoenfisch, Sara Yvonne Brucker & Felix Neis

Authors
  1. Christl Reisenauer
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  2. Sebastian Hartlieb
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  3. Birgitt Schoenfisch
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  4. Sara Yvonne Brucker
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  5. Felix Neis
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Contributions

CR: Protocol/ project development, data collection and management, data analysis, manuscript writing and editing. SH: Protocol development, data collection and management, data analysis, manuscript editing. BS: Protocol development, statistical analysis, manuscript editing. SYB: Data analysis, manuscript editing. FN: Project administration, supervision, data writing.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christl Reisenauer.

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Conflicts of interest

For the study Asclepion Laser Technologies GmbH Jena Germany provided us with the Juliet Laser and the single use handpiece adapters. Our research did not involve animals.

Informed consent

From all human participants Informed consent was obtained.

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Reisenauer, C., Hartlieb, S., Schoenfisch, B. et al. Vaginal therapy of mild and moderate stress urinary incontinence using Er:YAG laser: a real treatment option. Arch Gynecol Obstet 300, 1645–1650 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-019-05334-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-019-05334-2

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