Sexual function after energy-based treatments of women with urinary incontinence. A systematic review and meta-analysis

Comparison of the effect of noninvasive radiofrequency with vaginal estrogen and vaginal moisturizer in the treatment of vulvovaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women: a randomized clinical trial

“…Several studies have shown that two laser technologies, microablative fractional carbon dioxide and nonablative photothermal erbium YAG, are effective in the treatment of VVA associated with menopause 18,19,27,36-42 . However, recent systematic reviews still point to a small number of randomized clinical trials in this field of study 43-45 …”

“…18,19,27,[36][37][38][39][40][41][42] However, recent systematic reviews still point to a small number of randomized clinical trials in this field of study. [43][44][45] Radiofrequency devices create an electric field that generates an oscillating electric current that causes motion and collisions among charged polar molecules, resulting in energy transfer to the target tissue as heat. When the target tissue reaches the specific controlled volumetric temperature (40°C-45°C), heating activates the heat shock proteins and initiates the inflammatory cascade, causing collagen and elastin synthesis, neovascularization, activation of the healing cascade, and stimulation of mucosal thickening.…”

The Process of Diagnosis and Treatment of Female Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and the Clinical Application of Physical Therapy

“…The therapeutic efficacy of nonablative radiofrequency techniques in urinary incontinence has been confirmed in several clinical studies. A meta-analysis published in 2023 reviewed the efficacy of physical techniques in the treatment of urinary incontinence, which included a total of 11 randomized controlled studies, of which there were three studies analyzing the improvement of radiofrequency techniques on ICIQ-SF in stress urinary incontinence, and all three studies suggested that in patients with urinary incontinence, radiofrequency had an ameliorative effect [143]. Slongo et al published in 2022 A study evaluated the efficacy of radiofrequency in the treatment of urinary incontinence in 117 women and showed that ICIQ-SF scores decreased from 13.6 (±3.8) to 8.2 (±5.2) in the radiofrequency-combined pelvic floor muscle training group, and from 14.2 (±3.1) to 9.3 (±5.2) in the single pelvic floor muscle training group, with the difference between the two groups being statistically significant (P < 0.05) [144].…”

“…Slongo et al published in 2022 A study evaluated the efficacy of radiofrequency in the treatment of urinary incontinence in 117 women and showed that ICIQ-SF scores decreased from 13.6 (±3.8) to 8.2 (±5.2) in the radiofrequency-combined pelvic floor muscle training group, and from 14.2 (±3.1) to 9.3 (±5.2) in the single pelvic floor muscle training group, with the difference between the two groups being statistically significant (P < 0.05) [144]. Seki et al evaluated the efficacy of CO2 laser versus radiofrequency for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence in a randomized controlled trial published in 2022, which included 139 female patients with stress urinary incontinence, and the study was divided into the radiofrequency group, the laser treatment group, and the placebo group, and the results suggested that the objective cure rates were 63.6%, 66.7%, and 22.2% for the three groups, respectively, and the results suggested that laser and The results suggest that both laser and radiofrequency show better therapeutic effects on stress urinary incontinence [143]. Overall, radiofrequency has a good therapeutic effect on urinary incontinence, but patients need to be screened for changes in pelvic floor structure to determine the need for radiofrequency.…”