Long-term results of the pelvic floor muscle training for female urinary incontinence: An 8-year transition tree and predictive parameters

Aims: The pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training is effective in alleviating the symptoms of urinary incontinence, but there are very few reports available on its long-term effectiveness. Therefore, 8-year follow-up data have been prospectively analyzed. Materials and Methods: Originally 123 women with stress or mixed urinary incontinence participated in an 8-week intensive PFM training program. The training comprised repeated muscle contractions of the pelvic floor and the timely locking of the perineum. An average of 8 years (6-10) had elapsed between the time of present assessment and the completion of the original training. Seventy-nine women were subjected to the present analysis. Self-reported responses of "completely cured" and "more than 50% improved" were regarded as treatment success (TS). An 8-year transition tree and predictive parameters were analyzed. Results: The success rate of the training was 39% at the 8-year follow-up. The transition tree demonstrated that the continence/incontinence status has been varying in 42% of the women, while it was stable in 58% throughout the follow-up period. The 6-year incidence and remission rates of incontinence were 34% and 1.8%, respectively. The higher pressure difference in the vaginal contraction strength between the baseline and strength at the end of the training is a predictive parameter of the long-term TS. Conclusions: The results suggest that the 8-year TS rate was 39% and that the altered patterns of the continence status and incidence and remission rates of incontinence were similar to those observed in the general population.