Pelvic Floor Electrical Stimulation (PFES) is a therapeutic technique that uses mild electrical currents to stimulate pelvic floor muscles or nerves. This non-invasive method addresses various dysfunctions and can improve quality of life.
What is Pelvic Floor Electrical Stimulation?
PFES uses mild electrical currents delivered through specialized devices. These currents cause pelvic floor muscles to contract and relax rhythmically, mimicking natural contractions that some individuals find difficult to perform voluntarily. This process aims to improve muscle strength, endurance, and coordination.
Beyond muscle contraction, PFES can modulate nerve signals, influencing bladder and bowel function, and pain perception. It works by activating motor-efferent fibers of the pudendal nerve, directly causing muscle contraction. The goal is to rehabilitate weakened or dysfunctional pelvic floor muscles and enhance blood flow, promoting tissue healing and overall pelvic health.
Conditions It Addresses
PFES is commonly used for conditions affecting pelvic floor function. A primary application is treating urinary incontinence, including stress, urge, and mixed types. For stress incontinence, PFES strengthens pelvic floor muscles to improve urethral closure, reducing leakage during activities like coughing or sneezing. For urge incontinence, often linked to an overactive bladder, lower frequency stimulation (around 10-15 Hz) can calm bladder nerves, reducing urgency and frequency.
PFES also addresses fecal incontinence by improving bowel control through muscle strengthening and nerve modulation. It helps individuals locate and isolate weak pelvic floor muscles for more effective voluntary contractions. Additionally, PFES may help manage certain chronic pelvic pain types by modulating nerve signals, potentially reducing medication reliance.
How Pelvic Floor Electrical Stimulation is Applied
PFES can be administered using internal or external devices. Internal devices, such as vaginal or anal probes, directly stimulate pelvic floor muscles by delivering low-grade electrical signals. External electrodes can be placed on the skin around the sacrum or perineum.
Sessions typically last 20 to 30 minutes, with treatment frequency varying from daily to several times a week. During a session, individuals may feel tingling or a muscle contraction. The electrical current’s intensity is adjustable for comfort and to elicit a contraction. Treatment can occur in a clinical setting with a physical therapist, or with home-use devices, though professional instruction is important.
Expected Outcomes and Considerations for Treatment
Individuals undergoing PFES may experience improvements like enhanced muscle control, fewer leakage episodes, or reduced pain. Results vary and often require consistent use over a period, sometimes up to three months, for noticeable changes. PFES is often part of a comprehensive pelvic floor rehabilitation plan, which may include exercises and lifestyle adjustments for optimal results.
Before starting treatment, discuss considerations with a healthcare professional, such as a gynecologist, urologist, or physical therapist. PFES may not be suitable for individuals who are pregnant, actively trying to conceive, or have active pelvic infections. It is also not recommended for those with certain medical implants, like cardiac pacemakers, or active cancer. A qualified healthcare provider’s assessment is important to determine suitability and develop a personalized treatment plan.