The Effectiveness of Combined Pelvic Floor Muscle Training and Vaginal Oestrogen Therapy in Postmenopausal Women With Stress Urinary Incontinence

Overview

The objective of this clinical trial is to investigate whether the combination of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) and topical estrogen is more effective in treating stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in postmenopausal women compared to topical estrogen alone. The trial will also analyze factors related to the outcomes of the combined therapy. The key questions this trial aims to answer are: * Does the combination of PFMT and topical estrogen improve symptoms of stress urinary incontinence in postmenopausal women better than topical estrogen alone? * Which factors are associated with the effectiveness of the combined therapy? Researchers will compare the group receiving the combined therapy (pelvic floor muscle training plus topical estrogen) with the group receiving topical estrogen alone to determine whether adding PFMT to estrogen therapy provides additional treatment benefits for SUI in postmenopausal women. Participants will: \- Be randomly assigned to one of two groups: Group 1: Undergo a pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) program combined with topical estrogen therapy (e.g., vaginal cream/application,...). Group 2: Receive topical estrogen therapy alone (e.g., vaginal cream/application,...). * Follow the assigned intervention protocol for a specified duration. * Attend regular clinic visits for clinical examinations, assessment of incontinence severity, and related measurements. * Monitor and record their incontinence symptoms and the frequency of urine leakage during daily activities.

Interventions

• Combination product Combined Pelvic Floor Muscle Training and Vaginal Oestrogen Therapy
  Group 1: * Patients were instructed to identify and sense their pelvic floor muscles and to perform contraction-hold-relaxation exercises. * Exercises were performed at a frequency of 8 sets per session, 3 sessions per week, progressing from the supine position (month 1), to sitting (month 2), and to standing (month 3). Training was monitored by an electronic diary app. (Appendix) * Six individual 45-minute intervention sessions at the center using biofeedback, under the supervision of a physic
• Drug Vaginal estrogen
  Patients were prescribed and instructed to use 0.5 mg vaginal estrogen for 6 months according to the following regimen: First 4 weeks: insert one 0.5 mg tablet nightly at bedtime. Next 20 weeks: insert one 0.5 mg tablet at bedtime twice weekly, with 2-3 days between doses.

Primary outcome measures

• Changes from baseline at 3 and 6 months in One-hour Pad test [Time frame: At baseline, 3 months, and 6 months]

Secondary outcome measures (6)

• Changes from baseline at 3 and 6 months in Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I scale) [Time frame: At baseline, 3 months, and 6 months]
• Changes from baseline at 3 and 6 months in International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence-Short Form (ICIQ-UI-SF scale) [Time frame: At baseline, 3 months, and 6 months]
• Changes from baseline at 3 and 6 months in Oxford Scale [Time frame: At baseline, 3 months, and 6 months]
• Changes from baseline at 3 and 6 months in Pelvic floor ultrasound assessment [Time frame: At baseline, 3 months, and 6 months]
• Changes from baseline at 3 and 6 months in Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Quality of Life (ICIQ-LUTSqol scale) [Time frame: At baseline, 3 months, and 6 months]
• Changes from baseline at 3 and 6 months in total serum estradiol concentration [Time frame: At baseline, 3 months, and 6 months]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• Patients diagnosed with stress urinary incontinence.
• Women who have been naturally postmenopausal for at least 1 year or are postmenopausal due to bilateral oophorectomy (surgical removal of both ovaries).
• Have had sexual intercourse to ensure feasibility of urogenital tract examination and assessment.
• Patients who consent to participate in the study and comply with the treatment protocol, including performing pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) and completing topical vaginal estrogen therapy.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with concomitant neurological disorders, urinary tract infections, prior pelvic radiotherapy, or congenital malformations of the lower urinary tract.
• Genitourinary malformations or fistulas causing continuous urinary incontinence.
• Genitourinary cancers or tumors of the urinary tract.
• History of spinal cord injury or central nervous system injury affecting the centers that control urination.
• Patients previously treated for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) (surgery, medications, exercises).
• Patients with severe heart disease, coronary artery disease, or myocardial ischemia.
• Patients with pelvic organ prolapse stage III or higher, unexplained vaginal bleeding, confirmed or suspected breast cancer, or vaginitis.
• Presence of premalignant factors or suspected steroid-dependent cancers such as endometrial carcinoma.
• History of or current hepatic tumors, or progressive liver or biliary disease.
• Coagulation/thrombotic disorders, or a history of thromboembolism or stroke.
• Severe hypertriglyceridemia.
• Hypersensitivity to any component of vaginally administered estrogen products.
• The patient or family members are unable to use a smartphone (Android or iOS) to participate in the monitoring program.
• The patient does not agree to participate in the study.

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation

Randomized

Model

Parallel assignment

Masking

Single blind

Primary purpose

Treatment

Study locations

Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07186985 · HMUIRB1843

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗