Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is the most common form of urinary incontinence in women, characterized by the unintentional leakage of urine during physical activities or movements like sneezing or coughing. However, there is limited research on the long-term effects of using vaginal cones as a treatment for SUI in post-menopausal women. To address this research gap, a randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the long-term effects of vaginal cones (VC) and pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) in this population. The trial received a methodological quality rating of 6 out of 10 on the PEDro scale. The study included 45 post-menopausal women who were divided into three groups: VC group (n=15), PFMT group (n=15), and a control group (CG, n=15). The VC and PFMT groups received treatment over a six-week period, with twice-weekly sessions. In the VC group, pelvic floor muscle strengthening was achieved through the use of vaginal cones. No treatment was given to the control group during this timeframe. Evaluations were conducted at baseline, immediately after treatment, and at 3 and 12 months post-treatment. The primary outcome measure focused on urinary leakage, while secondary outcomes encompassed pelvic floor muscle strength, quality of life, satisfaction with treatment, and adherence to training. The results indicated that both the VC and PFMT groups experienced a significant reduction in urinary leakage compared to their baseline measurements at the end of the six-week treatment period. This improvement in urinary leakage was sustained at the 3-month and 12-month follow-up assessments. There were no statistically significant differences observed between the VC and PFMT groups in terms of the primary outcome measure at any of the evaluation time points. In conclusion, both treatments, whether involving VC or PFMT alone, demonstrated to be effective at long-term for improving urinary leakage, pelvic floor muscle strength, and quality of life in post-menopausal women with SUI within a six-week intervention period. Moreover, no adverse effects were reported in either treatment group following the completion of the intervention.

David Lucena Atón

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