Single‐Arm Pilot Study to Determine the Effectiveness of the Support Power of Underwear in Elevating the Bladder Neck and Reducing Symptoms of Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women

Abstract

To verify the effectiveness of support power of underwear (the shaper) to elevate bladder neck and to reduce symptoms of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). This was a single-arm pilot study conducted in Japan by using the shaper (SLIM-up-Pants with Style Science, Wacoal Corporation, Kyoto, Japan). The bladder neck position in a sitting posture was recorded using an open-configuration magnetic resonance system and then compared between parous women with SUI, without and with the shaper. Women wore the shaper during the daytime for 12 weeks, followed by one week during which they did not wear the shaper. The symptoms of urinary incontinence (UI) were assessed based on the 1-h pad test, the Japanese version of the International Consultation Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form, and the incontinence diary. Forty-five Japanese women with SUI, aged between 27 and 65 years, were included. When the shaper was worn, the bladder neck was found to be significantly elevated by 11.5 mm (median; P < 0.05/6 = 0.008). After 12 weeks, all symptoms of UI decreased significantly (P < 0.05/3 = 0.016), and the bladder neck was further elevated by 4.7 mm (median; P < 0.001) even when not wearing the shaper. In addition, after one week of not wearing the shaper, the bladder neck position remained elevated and symptoms of UI did not recur immediately. The shaper was considered to be effective in elevating the bladder neck and reducing symptoms of UI.