ER:YAG SMOOTH GYNAECOLOGICAL LASER TREATMENT FOR STRESS URINARY INCONTINENCE

Abstract

Introduction: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is the leakage of urine during physical activity that increases abdominal pressure, such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercise. It is the most prevalent type of urinary incontinence in women and the health issue that is most frequently observed in women after a certain age.

Objective: To assess the FotonaSmooth R device’s effectiveness and safety in treating women with SUI (stress urinary incontinence) after treating them with the non-ablative Er: YAG (Erbium-doped Yttrium Aluminium Garnet) smooth gynaecological laser using both objective and patient-reported outcomes.

Materials and methods: A total of 96 parous women with SUI were treated in accordance with the IncontiLase® treatment protocol by using non-ablative Er: YAG laser at Vcare Laser Centre for Cosmetic gynaecology, Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Patients were clinically examined at baseline, 2 months, and 9 months after treatment. All the subjects completed questionnaires for SUI severity and sexual function assessment. The King’s Health Questionnaire (KHQ), the UDI-6 (Urogenital Distress Inventory) Questionnaire, the 3D Voiding Diary, and the Satisfaction Questionnaire (0-3) were used to assess symptom relief (complaints) and satisfaction. Patients were monitored for side effects and discomfort during the treatment and follow-up periods.

Results: A total of 96 patients with mild-to-moderate stress urinary incontinence were treated with an Er:YAG (2940 nm) laser in non-ablative fractional mode, which requires 2-3 sessions separated by one month (96 patients completed the first session, 72 patients completed two sessions, and 30 patients completed three sessions). Seventy-five percent of patients expressed complete satisfaction with the course of action and results.

Conclusion: The non-ablative Er:YAG smooth gynaecological laser therapy by IncontiLase® improves the impact of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) symptoms on quality of life and sexual function in premenopausal parous women and provides a promising minimally invasive, safe treatment alternative for SUI as per our study results, which, after further optimization, could reduce the need for surgery. It is a fast, simple, and well tolerated procedure. It is associated with a high level of safety and a short recovery period.

Keywords: Urinary Incontinence; LASER; KHQ; UDI-6; Cosmetics; Gynaecology