A retrospective comparison of ring pessary and multicomponent behavioral therapy in managing overactive bladder

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a physically, psychologically, and socially disabling condition that affects millions of women worldwide and is especially prevalent postmenopause. The objective of our study was to compare the cure rates of ring pessary with those of multicomponent behavioral therapy in managing overactive bladder.

We performed a comparative retrospective parallel cohort study of all women whose overactive bladder was treated with multicomponent behavioral therapy or ring pessary over a 42-month period. At the end of the 6-month treatment period, cure was defined as the subjective (self-reported) absence of urinary urgency, frequency, nocturia, and urge incontinence in the preceding 30 days; the objective absence of these symptoms in a 7-day voiding diary; and a Patient Global Impression of Improvement response of “much better” or “very much better.”

Ring pessary and multicomponent behavioral therapy had similar cure rates (29 out of 150 [19 %] vs 46 out of 231 [20 %] respectively, P = 0.889; OR of 1.04, 95 % confidence interval 0.618–1.742, P = 0.887). They also produced comparable cure rates in premenopausal (4 out of 31 [13 %] vs 14 out of 68 [21 %], P = 0.358) and postmenopausal subjects (25/ out of 19 [21 %] vs 32 out of 163 [20 %], P = 0.776), and in women who had undergone previous treatment (21 out of 108 [19 %] vs 31 out of 176 [18 %], P = 0.699) and those who had not (8 out of 42 [19 %] vs 15 out of 55 [27 %], P = 0.345). Logistic regression showed that neither treatment outcome is significantly associated with demographic characteristics; Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification at the anterior and posterior vaginal walls and at the vaginal cuff; previous treatment; overactive bladder symptoms; pad usage; or any combination thereof.

Ring pessary has a cure rate similar to that of multicomponent behavioral therapy in managing overactive bladder.