Electrotherapy Plus Photobiostimulation for the Treatment of Mild Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Stress Urinary Incontinence

TL;DR

This study shows that combining electrotherapy and light therapy can improve quality of life for women with mild pelvic floor disorders.

Contribution

The study introduces the DAFNE system, combining electrotherapy and photobiostimulation for conservative treatment of pelvic floor disorders.

Findings

87.5% of patients reported improvement in quality of life after treatment.

Quality of life scores improved significantly using validated scales like UDI-6 and POPDI-6.

The DAFNE system was effective for mild pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence.

Abstract

Introduction: Pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) are a very widespread clinical phenomenon and are known to affect millions of women worldwide, significantly impairing their quality of life. New technologies and innovations such as electrotherapy and photobiostimulation are currently revolutionizing what concerns conservative treatment, allowing clinicians to tailor therapy to every woman. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of use of electrotherapy and photobiostimulation in PFD management and the initial results of treatment in clinical practice. Methods: This prospective study (IRB code: GSM-RF 2025) aimed to analyze the impact of the innovative DAFNE system to treat PFDs through electrotherapy and photobiostimulation. We enrolled patients with mild pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence who desired a conservative treatment for their conditions. The following validated scales were used for assessing baseline quality of life before and after treatment: Urinary Distress Inventory-6 (UDI-6), Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory-6 (POPDI-6), Female Sexual Function Index-6 (FSFI-6), 0–100 VAS Scale, and Vaginal Health Index. Electrotherapy was delivered through 4 gold rings, providing Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES), Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and/or Microcurrent Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation (MENS). The photobiostimulation system consisted of 24 LEDs per wavelength (420 nm UVA; 630 nm RED; 870 nm NIR/INFRARED) positioned at 360° along the entire length of the handpiece for antimicrobial purposes, microcirculation improvement, and anti-inflammatory action. The cycle of treatment consisted of 3–5 sessions, according to necessity. Overall improvement was measured through the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I). Statistical analysis was performed using Student’s t-Test. A value of p < 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: In the period of interest, 32 women were treated with the DAFNE system. The mean age was 57.0 ± 16.6 years. Indications for treatment were stress urinary incontinence (16/32), mild pelvic organ prolapse (14/32), or both (2/32). The mean number of treatments per patient was 4. Quality of life improved as a consequence of the treatment according to the considered scales. Specifically, 87.5% of patients considered themselves improved. Conclusions: The DAFNE system has been successful in managing mild pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence, improving quality of life scores. Embracing new technologies such as electrotherapy and photobiostimulation appears to be successful in conservatively managing a variety of PFDs.

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