Stress Urinary Incontinence

An uncontrollable leak of pee brought on by physical activity, sneezing, or coughing is known as stress urinary incontinence, or SUI. According to statistics, up to 49% of Australian women suffer from stress-related urinary incontinence. SUI impairs physical productivity, damages relationships, burdens women psychologically, and degrades their quality of life.

At the moment, the most common clinical treatment for SUI that many women choose is pelvic floor muscle training or Kegel exercises, but mastering the exercises is difficult. Unwanted side effects, such as insomnia, restlessness, raised blood pressure, arrhythmia, chest pain, and headache, led to the withdrawal of α-adrenergic stimulating medication treatment for women with SUI.

Since acupuncture has been shown to reduce urine leakage, it is a useful treatment choice for SUI. Uncertainty surrounds the mechanisms of acupuncture for SUI. The primary pathophysiologies have been suggested to be intrinsic urethral sphincter insufficiency and urethral hypermobility brought on by weak pelvic floor muscles.It is possible for the maximum urethral closure pressure to rise with pelvic floor electric stimulation. The lumbosacral area of acupuncture may contract muscles and resemble pelvic floor muscle exercise. Both techniques were found effective in treating SUI. For instance, acupuncture in the lumbosacral region reduced urine leakage more than sham acupuncture throughout a 6-week treatment period, according to one study. The effects lasted for 24 weeks following therapy, and there was little chance of negative side effects.

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