Does a history of bullying and abuse predict lower urinary tract symptoms, chronic pain, and sexual dysfunction?

Purpose: To investigate associations of bullying and abuse with pelvic floor symptoms, urogenital pain, and sexual health characteristics of women presenting to a multidisciplinary women's urology center.

Methods: Retrospective review of a prospective database. Patients completed questions about bullying, abuse, sexual health and validated questionnaires including the Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Inventory (PFDI-20), Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB-q), and visual analog scale (VAS 0-10) for genitourinary pain.

Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation for the long-term treatment of overactive bladder: 3-year results of the STEP study.

Purpose: We report the long-term efficacy and safety of percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation with the Urgent® PC Neuromodulation System for overactive bladder after 3 years of therapy.

Materials And Methods: Fifty participants in the randomized, double-blind SUmiT (Sham Effectiveness in Treatment of Overactive Bladder Symptoms) Trial who met the primary effectiveness end point after 12 weekly percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation treatments were enrolled in this prospective study to assess long-term outcomes with percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation. STEP (Sustained Therapeutic Effects of Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation) Study patients were prescribed a fixed schedule 14-week tapering protocol followed by a personal treatment plan aimed at sustaining overactive bladder symptom improvement.

Sustained therapeutic effects of percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation: 24-month results of the STEP study.

Aims: To evaluate the safety, sustained effectiveness, and treatment interval for percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) for overactive bladder (OAB) therapy through 24 months.

Methods: A prospective study following treatment success after 12 weekly PTNS treatments, subjects were prescribed a 14-week tapering protocol, followed by ongoing therapy with a Personal Treatment Plan determined by the investigator and subject to sustain subject OAB symptom improvement. Questionnaires were completed every 3 months, voiding diaries every 6 months; adverse events were reported throughout.

Vaginal diazepam use with urogenital pain/pelvic floor dysfunction: serum diazepam levels and efficacy data.

Vaginal diazepam is used off-label for pelvic floor dysfunction and urogenital pain, but serum levels with efficacy have not been reported until now. One clinician evaluated 21 women for overall, levator, and vulvar pain pre- and one-month post-daily diazepam treatment. One-month post-treatment assessments and serum diazepam levels were done; 62% were moderately or markedly improved.

Randomized trial of percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation versus Sham efficacy in the treatment of overactive bladder syndrome: results from the SUmiT trial.

Purpose: The Study of Urgent PC vs Sham Effectiveness in Treatment of Overactive Bladder Symptoms (SUmiT) was a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial comparing the efficacy of percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation to sham through 12 weeks of therapy. The improvement in global response assessment, voiding diary parameters, and overactive bladder and quality of life questionnaires was evaluated.

Materials And Methods: A total of 220 adults with overactive bladder symptoms were randomized 1:1 to 12 weeks of treatment with weekly percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation or sham therapy.

The relationship of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome to vulvodynia.

Introduction: Many patients have interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS), a condition of frequency, urgency, and pain affecting more than 1 million women in the United States. The vulva, not the urethra or bladder, may actually be the site of some of the reported pain in women with IC/PBS.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the presence of vulvodynia in women diagnosed with IC/PBS.

Characterization of a clinical cohort of 87 women with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome.

Objective: To provide a characterization of a cohort of women with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) by describing their historical and clinical characteristics. This was reported with the National Institutes of Health chronic prostatitis cohort, but a literature review did not reveal a similar study for women with IC/PBS.

Methods: A total of 87 women with IC/PBS were referred to the Beaumont Women's Initiative for Pelvic Pain and Sexual Health program.

Guided imagery for women with interstitial cystitis: results of a prospective, randomized controlled pilot study.

Introduction: In the United States, more than 1 million women and men are affected with interstitial cystititis (IC), which is a clinical syndrome involving urinary urgency, frequency, and pelvic pain. A review of the literature revealed that there are no studies showing the effect of guided imagery in women with IC. The purpose of this clinical investigation was to explore the effect of guided imagery on pelvic pain and urinary symptoms in women with IC symptoms.

Sexual function and sexual distress in women with interstitial cystitis: a case-control study.

Objectives: To evaluate female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in women with interstitial cystitis (IC) versus a control group. Specific areas of FSD in women with IC have not been reported.

Methods: A mailed survey was sent to 5000 randomly selected women from the United States (controls) and 407 women with IC from a large referral center (cases).

Dilemmas in diagnosing pelvic pain: multiple pelvic surgeries common in women with interstitial cystitis.

We determined the prevalence of pelvic surgeries in women with interstitial cystitis (IC) compared to community-based controls through responses to a survey from 215 women with IC and 823 controls. Women with IC had a statistically higher prevalence of hysterectomies (cases=42.3%, controls=21.

Prevalence of pelvic floor dysfunction in patients with interstitial cystitis.

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of pelvic floor dysfunction in women with interstitial cystitis (IC).

Methods: Women with IC and pelvic pain were referred to the Beaumont Women's Initiative for Pelvic Pain and Sexual Health program. A comprehensive patient history and pelvic examination were completed by a certified women's health nurse practitioner.

Fact or fiction--is abuse prevalent in patients with interstitial cystitis? Results from a community survey and clinic population.

Purpose: We determined whether abuse is associated with interstitial cystitis by surveying patients with interstitial cystitis and controls. We corroborated this association in a clinic population.

Materials And Methods: A survey was mailed to 406 women diagnosed with interstitial cystitis and 5,000 age matched, randomly selected women in the United States.

Prevalence of self-reported interstitial cystitis (IC) and interstitial-cystitis-like symptoms among adult women in the community.

Purpose: Reported estimates of IC prevalence vary widely. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of IC among community-dwelling adult women.

Methods: We analyzed survey responses from 215 established IC cases and 823 age-matched community-dwelling controls.

Frequency, urgency, and pelvic pain: treating the pelvic floor versus the epithelium.

For years the bladder epithelium has been the focus for diagnosing and treating the frequency, urgency, and pelvic pain of interstitial cystitis. However, many patients have not found symptom relief with these therapies. Pelvic floor dysfunction is often present in these patients, yet it is often untreated.