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Background and Objectives: To estimate the effectiveness of Kegel exercises versus extracorporeal magnetic innervation (EMI) in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Materials and Methods: A parallel group, randomized clinical trial was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Hospital Centre Zagreb, Croatia. After assessing the inclusion/exclusion criteria, each eligible participant was randomized to one of the two observed groups by flipping a coin: the first group underwent treatment with Kegel exercises for 8 weeks, while the second group underwent EMI during the same time interval. The primary outcome was the effectiveness of treatment as measured by the ICIQ-UI-SF overall score, eight weeks after the commencement of treatment. Results: During the study period, 117 consecutive patients with SUI symptoms were assessed for eligibility. A total of 94 women constituted the study population, randomized into two groups: Group Kegel (N = 48) and Group EMI (N = 46). After 8 weeks of follow-up, intravaginal pressure values in the EMI group were 30.45 cmH2O vs. the Kegel group, whose values were 23.50 cmH2O (p = 0.001). After 3 months of follow-up, the difference was still observed between the groups (p = 0.001). After the end of treatment and 3 months of follow-up, the values of the ICIQ-UI SF and ICIQ-LUTSqol questionnaires in the EMI group were lower than in the Kegel group (p < 0.001). Treatment satisfaction was overall better in the EMI group than in the Kegel group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Patients treated with EMI had a lower number of incontinence episodes, a better quality of life, and higher overall satisfaction with treatment than patients who performed Kegel exercises.

Episiotomy is obstetric procedure during which the incision extends the vestibule of the vagina during the second stage of labor. Episiotomy was extensively spread with gradual increase of rates in the first half of the 20th century and was performed medio-laterally in all nulliparous women with the idea to protect fetal head from trauma and pelvic floor from injuries. However, reports claiming that episiotomy had no such benefits were published. It was shown that routine medio-lateral episiotomy did not protect against the appearance of urinary incontinence after vaginal delivery, while the risk of anal incontinence could be increased. The role of episiotomy in development of pelvic floor dysfunction remains quite unclear. Due to the mentioned reason, restricted episiotomy approach should be accepted. The origin of stress incontinence during pregnancy is controversial and not definitely scientifically proven. Pregnancy per se and older age at first delivery may have impact on the onset of pelvic floor dysfunction. Urinary incontinence in pregnancy increases the risk of later urinary incontinence, both postpartum and later in life. Vaginal delivery is just one of the potential risk factors for development of urinary incontinence. Mechanical pressure by fetus on the pelvic floor structures, limited denervation of the pelvic floor and soft tissue damage during delivery are some of explanations for the onset of stress urinary incontinence. On the other hand, cesarean delivery might not be protective against emergence of urinary incontinence. Further research in this field is needed.