The Effectiveness of Combined Pelvic Floor Muscle Training and Vaginal Oestrogen Therapy in Postmenopausal Women With Stress Urinary Incontinence

NCT ID: NCT07186985

Last Updated: 2025-09-22

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 115 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-11-01
• Study Completion Date: 2027-02-28

Brief Summary

The objective of this clinical trial is to investigate whether the combination of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) and topical estrogen is more effective in treating stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in postmenopausal women compared to topical estrogen alone. The trial will also analyze factors related to the outcomes of the combined therapy. The key questions this trial aims to answer are:

• Does the combination of PFMT and topical estrogen improve symptoms of stress urinary incontinence in postmenopausal women better than topical estrogen alone?
• Which factors are associated with the effectiveness of the combined therapy?

Researchers will compare the group receiving the combined therapy (pelvic floor muscle training plus topical estrogen) with the group receiving topical estrogen alone to determine whether adding PFMT to estrogen therapy provides additional treatment benefits for SUI in postmenopausal women.

Participants will:

• Be randomly assigned to one of two groups:

Group 1: Undergo a pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) program combined with topical estrogen therapy (e.g., vaginal cream/application,...).

Group 2: Receive topical estrogen therapy alone (e.g., vaginal cream/application,...).

• Follow the assigned intervention protocol for a specified duration.
• Attend regular clinic visits for clinical examinations, assessment of incontinence severity, and related measurements.
• Monitor and record their incontinence symptoms and the frequency of urine leakage during daily activities.

Conditions

Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI); Postmenopausal Women

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

combination of PFMT and vaginal estrogen.

Patients were treated with a combination of a pelvic floor rehabilitation program and 0.5 mg vaginal estrogen.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Combined Pelvic Floor Muscle Training and Vaginal Oestrogen Therapy

Intervention Type: COMBINATION_PRODUCT

Group 1:

• Patients were instructed to identify and sense their pelvic floor muscles and to perform contraction-hold-relaxation exercises.
• Exercises were performed at a frequency of 8 sets per session, 3 sessions per week, progressing from the supine position (month 1), to sitting (month 2), and to standing (month 3). Training was monitored by an electronic diary app. (Appendix)
• Six individual 45-minute intervention sessions at the center using biofeedback, under the supervision of a physical therapy technician. (Appendix)
• The training program consisted of two parts: resistance training and pre-contraction training (the Knack technique). (Appendix)
• Patients were prescribed and instructed to use 0.5 mg vaginal estrogen for 6 months according to the following regimen:
• First 4 weeks: insert one 0.5 mg tablet nightly at bedtime.
• Next 20 weeks: insert one 0.5 mg tablet at bedtime twice weekly, with 2-3 days between doses

vaginal estrogen

Patients were treated with 0.5 mg topical vaginal estrogen

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Vaginal estrogen

Intervention Type: DRUG

Patients were prescribed and instructed to use 0.5 mg vaginal estrogen for 6 months according to the following regimen:

First 4 weeks: insert one 0.5 mg tablet nightly at bedtime. Next 20 weeks: insert one 0.5 mg tablet at bedtime twice weekly, with 2-3 days between doses.

Interventions

Combined Pelvic Floor Muscle Training and Vaginal Oestrogen Therapy

Group 1:

• Patients were instructed to identify and sense their pelvic floor muscles and to perform contraction-hold-relaxation exercises.
• Exercises were performed at a frequency of 8 sets per session, 3 sessions per week, progressing from the supine position (month 1), to sitting (month 2), and to standing (month 3). Training was monitored by an electronic diary app. (Appendix)
• Six individual 45-minute intervention sessions at the center using biofeedback, under the supervision of a physical therapy technician. (Appendix)
• The training program consisted of two parts: resistance training and pre-contraction training (the Knack technique). (Appendix)
• Patients were prescribed and instructed to use 0.5 mg vaginal estrogen for 6 months according to the following regimen:
• First 4 weeks: insert one 0.5 mg tablet nightly at bedtime.
• Next 20 weeks: insert one 0.5 mg tablet at bedtime twice weekly, with 2-3 days between doses

Intervention Type: COMBINATION_PRODUCT

Vaginal estrogen

Patients were prescribed and instructed to use 0.5 mg vaginal estrogen for 6 months according to the following regimen:

First 4 weeks: insert one 0.5 mg tablet nightly at bedtime. Next 20 weeks: insert one 0.5 mg tablet at bedtime twice weekly, with 2-3 days between doses.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Patients diagnosed with stress urinary incontinence.
• Women who have been naturally postmenopausal for at least 1 year or are postmenopausal due to bilateral oophorectomy (surgical removal of both ovaries).
• Have had sexual intercourse to ensure feasibility of urogenital tract examination and assessment.
• Patients who consent to participate in the study and comply with the treatment protocol, including performing pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) and completing topical vaginal estrogen therapy.

Exclusion Criteria

• Patients with concomitant neurological disorders, urinary tract infections, prior pelvic radiotherapy, or congenital malformations of the lower urinary tract.
• Genitourinary malformations or fistulas causing continuous urinary incontinence.
• Genitourinary cancers or tumors of the urinary tract.
• History of spinal cord injury or central nervous system injury affecting the centers that control urination.
• Patients previously treated for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) (surgery, medications, exercises).
• Patients with severe heart disease, coronary artery disease, or myocardial ischemia.
• Patients with pelvic organ prolapse stage III or higher, unexplained vaginal bleeding, confirmed or suspected breast cancer, or vaginitis.
• Presence of premalignant factors or suspected steroid-dependent cancers such as endometrial carcinoma.
• History of or current hepatic tumors, or progressive liver or biliary disease.
• Coagulation/thrombotic disorders, or a history of thromboembolism or stroke.
• Severe hypertriglyceridemia.
• Hypersensitivity to any component of vaginally administered estrogen products.
• The patient or family members are unable to use a smartphone (Android or iOS) to participate in the monitoring program.
• The patient does not agree to participate in the study.

• Eligible Sex: FEMALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Hanoi Medical University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Nguyen Quang Du

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Central Contacts

Du Nguyen Quang

Role: CONTACT

nguyenquangdu.hmuh@gmail.com

+84 337828793

Other Identifiers

HMUIRB1843

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id