title: Effect of vaginal electrical stimulation on female sexual functions: a randomized study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a common problem that may be encountered in the interruption of normal sexual functioning in the sexual response cycle. Women with a pelvic floor disorder who scored low on the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) showed an improvement in their sexual life following treatment by vaginal electrical stimulation (VES).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of VES in women with FSD without a predominant pelvic floor disorder or urinary incontinence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two women with FSD were randomly allocated to VES and placebo groups. Pelvic floor muscle (PFM) assessment and the FSFI questionnaire were performed at baseline and after the completion of sessions. VES treatment was administered using a vaginal probe. The probe was inserted, and a medium-frequency (50 Hz) alternating current was administered for a duty cycle of 5 seconds on followed by a 5-second rest.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary outcome measure was the improvement in FSFI score. PFM assessments were performed according to the PERFECT scheme.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total FSFI scores improved significantly in both the VES group and the control group. Results show that in the VES group, there was an improvement in total score and FSFI domains that improved including arousal, desire, orgasm, and satisfaction. Similarly, control group domains that improved were desire, arousal, and orgasm. But there was no significant increase in satisfaction scores in the placebo group. No significant changes in pain or lubrication domains were seen in either group. Power, endurance, fast contractions, and repetitions were significantly improved in the VES group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The lack of significant differences between the placebo and VES groups, except the satisfaction domain, puts into question the effectiveness of electrical stimulation as a monotherapy in treating primary FSD without pelvic floor disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Bezmialem Vakif University, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aydın
authors.forename: Çağrı
authors.initials: Ç
authors.lastname: Arıoğlu Aydın
authors.forename: Gonca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Batmaz
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dansuk
mesh_terms: D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009948:Orgasm; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014621:Vagina / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Dyspareunia; Female Sexual Dysfunction; Orgasm; Pelvic Floor Muscle; Vaginal Electrical Stimulation