Written By: IJCP Editorial Team

Published On: 18 Jun, 2022 1:32 PM | Updated On: 17 May, 2024 6:31 AM

Feasibility, Safety and Efficacy of Fractional Micro-Ablative CO2 Vaginal (FxCO2) Laser Treatment and Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) in Women with Urge Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence refers to loss of bladder control, varying from slight loss of urine after sneezing, coughing or laughing, to complete inability to control urine. Women who experience UUI may also complain of frequency and nocturia, symptoms which are attributed to detrusor muscle over activity. The high prevalence of urinary incontinence as well as the costs and side-effects associated with current treatments has opened the door to more novel approaches, which include FxCO2 laser treatment and PRP that may offer symptomatic relief for women with UUI. 

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of FxCO2 and PRP treatment in women with bothersome urinary symptoms as well as other secondary outcomes.

The analysis involves a prospective cohort study of women with moderate to severe UUI. Data assessing aspects of UUI, its symptoms and quality-of-life after the treatment were gathered from patients using The Australian Pelvic Floor Questionnaire (APFQ). Subjective verbal scales were also used to assess the degree of pain associated with PRP injections and laser treatment. 

Promising results were obtained and the patients reported short-term improvements in UUI symptoms and various gynecological conditions. All symptom improvements remained statistically significant at the long-term (≥12-month) follow-up.

These findings conclude that, FxCO2 laser and PRP is a safe, feasible and effective alternative for treatment of urge urinary incontinence in women with moderate to severe vaginal atrophy. The treatment effects may diminish significantly by 12-18 months and may require a booster treatment to maintain symptom relief.

Source: Behnia-Willison F, Nguyen TTT, Krneta S, McPhail C, Bahadori S, Willison N, Aryan P, Lam A and Paraiso MFR; Feasibility, Safety and Efficacy of Fractional Micro-Ablative CO2 Vaginal (FxCO2) Laser Treatment and Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) in Women with Urge Urinary Incontinence; Open Access Journal of Gynecology: ISSN: 2474-9230; Medwin Publishers; 2021.