Effects of interferential current stimulation in women with pelvic organ prolapse: a prospective randomized sham-controlled study

Introduction and hypothesis The objective was to investigate the effects of interferential (IF) current stimulation on pelvic floor symptoms, prolapse stages, pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strength/endurance, quality of life (QoL), sexual function, perception of subjective improvement (PSI), and satisfaction in women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Methods The patients were randomly divided into the IF (n=13) and sham groups (n=12). Lifestyle advice was given in both groups. Active IF current was applied in the IF group and sham IF was applied in the sham group 3 days a week for 8 weeks. The following tools were used for data evaluation: pelvic floor symptom severity with the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 (PFDI-20), POP with the simplified POP-quantification system, PFM strength/endurance with a perineometer, QoL with the Prolapse Quality of Life Scale (P-QoL), and sexual function with the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Function Scale (PISQ-12). Evaluations were made before treatment (BT), mid-term (MT, 4th week), and after treatment (AT). PSI and satisfaction were evaluated AT with Likert-type scales. Results In the intergroup comparison AT, a greater increase in PFM strength/endurance, P-QoL-role limitations, P-QoL-sleep/energy scores, PSI, and satisfaction level, and a decrease in cystocele stages were observed in the IF group than in the sham group (p<0.05). Further, there was a greater increase in PFM endurance in the IF group in MT (p<0.05). Conclusions Interferential current stimulation was effective in improving POP stage, PFM strength/endurance, and QoL in women with POP. IF current stimulation can be used as a complementary treatment method in women with POP.