Experience of Women With Urinary Incontinence: Perceptions About Intravaginal Electrostimulation

• Grant number: 25/27477-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2026
• End date: June 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Patricia Driusso
• Grantee: Marina Lopes de Oliveira
• Supervisor: Raquel Leiros-Rodriguez
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidad De León, Spain
• Associated to the scholarship: 25/10945-0 - Women's Experience with Urinary Incontinence: Perceptions of Intravaginal Electrostimulation, BP.IC

Abstract

Introduction: Urinary incontinence (UI) is the involuntary loss of urine, morecommon in women and with physical, psychological, and social impacts. It canbe classified as stress incontinence (SUI), urgency incontinence (UUI), or mixedurinary incontinence (MUI). Physiotherapeutic interventions are commonlyutilized in UI management, including kinesiotherapy, biofeedback, andintravaginal electrostimulation (IVES). IVES promotes the activation of the pelvicfloor muscles, helping to reduce episodes of urinary leakage and beingconsidered safe and well-accepted. Objectives: To evaluate the perceptions ofwomen who have been subjected to intravaginal electrical stimulation. Methods:This is a longitudinal study using an online questionnaire. Data will be collectedby sharing the questionnaire with physical therapists who use IVES for thetreatment of UI. These therapists will then invite their patients who havepreviously undergone this treatment to participate in the study. The inclusioncriteria consist of women over 18 years old, literate, with internet access, andwho have previously been subjected to intravaginal electrical stimulation. Thequestionnaire will include socioeconomic and demographic information, generalsensations related to intravaginal stimulation, intensity and localization ofsensations, physical reactions, comparison with other experiences, emotionaland psychological aspects, feedback and suggestions, and post-procedureimpact. A descriptive analysis of the data will be performed using simplefrequencies, mean and standard deviation of the data, association analysis usingthe Chi-square test, and correlation analysis using the Pearson or Spearman testto verify the factors associated with the participant's perception of the use ofelectrostimulation. (AU)