A comprehensive review of conservative therapies for female stress urinary incontinence: Advancements, efficacy, and future directions

Abstract

Pelvic floor dysfunction poses a significant challenge to women worldwide. Female urinary incontinence is one of the most prevalent types of pelvic floor dysfunctions, affecting at least 50% of females, particularly those who are pregnant or menopausal. Among the various urinary incontinence subtypes, stress urinary incontinence takes the lead, characterized by involuntary urine leakage during activities that increase intra-abdominal pressure, such as sneezing, coughing, laughing, or exercising. This comprehensive review explores the latest advancements and critical insights into conservative treatments for stress urinary incontinence. Stress urinary incontinence symptoms result in profound physical and psychological consequences for individuals and impose a substantial medical and economic burden on society; however, only 5%-10% seek professional help. This narrative review meticulously examines a spectrum of interventions, ranging from lifestyle modifications to emerging modalities, such as laser treatment and electroacupuncture.

Keywords

Stress urinary incontinence / Conservative treatments / Pelvic floor muscles training

Acknowledgments

None.

Statement of ethics

Not applicable.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Funding source

This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China, no. 2021YFC2009100; Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province Project, no. 23ZYDF2049; and Sichuan Provincial Health Commission Project, no. 21ZD002 (all to XN).

Author contributions

CL, XN: Project development, data collection, manuscript writing, and editing.

All the authors have approved the final manuscript.

Data availability

This narrative review is based on data and studies that are publicly available in peer-reviewed journals and online databases, as referenced throughout the manuscript.

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