Effect of lattice CO2 laser combined with Kegel exercise mild moderate stress urinary incontinence and postpartum depression anxiety.

Abstract

Background: Postpartum stress urinary incontinence (SUI) symptoms affect a patient's daily activities and quality of life and increase the negative emotions that they experience. At present, there is no research on the effect of fractional CO₂ laser treatment combined with Kegel exercise on postpartum SUI and postpartum depression and anxiety.

Aim: To investigate the effect of lattice CO₂ laser treatment combined with Kegel exercise on mild to moderate postpartum SUI and its influence on postpartum depression and anxiety.

Methods: Using a retrospective study, data from 82 cases of mild to moderate postpartum SUI in Huzhou Maternal & Child Health Care Hospital from January to April 2024 were retrospectively collected. The cases were divided into groups according to the different treatment methods, namely Group S (41 cases, only receiving lattice CO₂ laser treatment) and Group L (41 cases, receiving lattice CO₂ laser combined with Kegel exercise treatment). The baseline data of the two groups were compared. In addition, we analyzed and compared the scores of the international commission on urinary incontinence questionnaire short form (ICI-Q-SF), incontinence quality of life questionnaire (I-QOL), Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS), and postpartum specific anxiety scale (PSAS) before treatment, at the end of treatment, and 3 months after the end of treatment between the two groups. Furthermore, the clinical efficacy and adverse reactions of the two groups were analyzed and compared at the end of treatment and 3 months after the end of treatment.

Results: There was no significant difference in the baseline data and the ICI-Q-SF, I-QOL, EPDS, and PSAS scores between the two groups before treatment. However, at the end of treatment, the ICI-Q-SF, I-QOL, EPDS, and PSAS scores between Groups L and S were significantly different. The overall effective rate of treatment in Group L was significantly higher than that in Group S. During the 3-month follow-up after treatment, it was found that the ICI-Q-SF, EPDS, and PSAS scores of Group L were still lower than those of Group S. In comparison, the I-QOL score and total effective rate of treatment were still higher in Group L than those in Group S, and this difference was significant. There was no significant difference in the adverse reactions between Group L and Group S.

Conclusion: The combination of dot lattice CO₂ laser and Kegel exercise has a significant therapeutic effect on mild to moderate postpartum SUI. It can prolong the duration of therapeutic effects, improve a patient's quality of life, and alleviate postpartum depression and anxiety.