Magnetic Stimulation, TTNS Both Beat Bladder Training Alone in Overactive Bladder

TUESDAY, Aug. 12, 2025 (HealthDay News) — For women with idiopathic overactive bladder (iOAB), both magnetic stimulation (MStim) and transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (TTNS) plus bladder training (BT) are more effective than BT alone, according to a study published online July 7 in the International Urogynecology Journal.

Necmettin Yildiz, M.D., from Pamukkale University in Denizli, Turkey, and colleagues randomly assigned 66 women with iOAB to receive BT only, MStim plus BT, and TTNS plus BT (groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively; 22 women in each group). MStim and TTNS were administered for 12 sessions over six weeks. The primary outcome was the positive response rate, defined as ≥50 percent fewer incontinence episodes at six weeks.

The researchers found that at week 6, the positive response rate was significantly higher in groups 2 and 3 versus group 1 (66.7 and 90.5 versus 35.0 percent, respectively), with no significant difference between groups 2 and 3. Significant improvements in incontinence severity, incontinence episodes, number of pads used, symptom severity, quality of life, and treatment satisfaction were seen in both stimulation groups versus the BT-only group. For these parameters, no significant differences were seen between groups 2 and 3. Compared with groups 1 and 2, voiding frequency significantly improved in group 3.

“While TTNS demonstrated superiority over MStim in reducing voiding frequency, both treatments showed similar efficacy in improving other key outcomes,” the authors write.

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