Investigating the effect of carboxytherapy in the treatment of urinary stress incontinency and sexual dysfunction in patients referred to the clinics of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences

The present study was performed to evaluate carboxytherapy as an outpatient and non-hormonal strategy for the treatment of a number of pelvic floor disorders.

This randomized block controlled clinical trial study was performed on 60 women aged 35-65 years in 1399-1400 to evaluate the effect of carboxytherapy on the treatment of stress urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction in comparison with the control group. At the beginning of the study, vaginal examination, cough test and POP-Q test were performed for all patients. Eligible individuals were randomly assigned to either carboxytherapy or control groups. Stress urinary incontinence was assessed using the ICIQ-UI SF questionnaire and sexual dysfunction was assessed using the PISQ-12 questionnaire. In the intervention group, 30 cc of CO2 gas with a 90-degree angle was injected in three areas of the bladder neck with the help of a needle gauge 30 with a length of 12 mm, so that each person underwent carboxytherapy twice a week for one month. The control group received the same protocol but without CO2 injection. The results were assessed both at the beginning of the study and one month and three months after the intervention through physical examination and two questionnaires.

The results of the present study showed that the mean of general sexual function index and also the mean index of sexual function of patients in the physical dimension and in the dimension related to sexual partner in the intervention group was significantly different during the two stages of measurement but no significant difference was observed in the control group. The overall score of urinary function, frequency of leakage and the effect of leakage on the quality of life of women in both control and intervention groups were significantly different between the three stages of measurement. While the rate of urine leakage in the intervention group was significantly different between times, no difference was observed in the control group.

Carboxytherapy is a safe, effective, acceptable, inexpensive, affordable, and accessible treatment option compared to other treatments for urinary incontinence, and better results can probably be achieved by increasing treatment sessions.