The Experience of People With Urinary Incontinence Using Invasive Devices in Pelvic Floor Muscle Training: A Qualitative Study.
Benedetto Giardulli, Gaia Leuzzi, Ottavia Buccarella and 2 others
PMID 40407099WHAT IT FOUND
People with urinary incontinence often found internal devices initially uncomfortable or unnatural, especially when undressed in front of a physiotherapist.
Trust, gradual exposure, clear explanation and active focus on contraction helped acceptance. Cost, privacy and device design remained barriers.
Key findings
01Many participants described initial anxiety or discomfort about using an internal device, especially when undressed in front of a physiotherapist, but some became comfortable over time.
02Gradual introduction, trust in the physiotherapist, clear explanation and tailored guidance helped participants accept the device.
03Participants said the devices helped them perceive pelvic floor contractions and support self management, but only when they actively focused on the exercise; privacy, cost and accessibility were barriers.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The participants were all Italian, heterosexual and white, so the findings may not apply to other cultural backgrounds or to LGBTQIA+ people. The sample was purposive and included people willing to discuss intimate device use, so it may miss those who found the topic too uncomfortable. The study covered several types of endocavitary devices together, so it cannot say which device type was easier or harder to accept. The interview guide was not pilot tested. Online interviews may have limited participation from people less comfortable with technology and may have affected trust. The study reported experiences, not symptom changes or treatment effects.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as evidence that internal devices improve urinary incontinence. The study reported experiences, not outcomes, and participants used the devices alongside pelvic floor exercises, so the effect of any single component cannot be separated.