Electro-acupuncture's influence on the closure mechanism of the female urethra in incontinence

The influence of electro-acupuncture on the sphincter of the female urethra was checked on 20 patients with stress incontinence without gross anatomic variation. This was determined by means of simultaneous cysto-urethromethrometry. After 30 minutes of electric stimulation through acupuncture needles which were placed into the skin of the lower legs and lower abdomen, a significant increase in the so-called "closing pressure" was found. Seventeen patients even showed positive pressure. In a control group of another 20 patients who, however, did not undergo acupuncture, there were only two cases of slight increase in closing pressure. In addition, a second control group of 20 patients was given a placebo suppository in order to eliminate any psychic factor as far as possible. Significant change of the closing pressure could not be found in any of these cases. Even though the actual working mechanism of electro-acupuncture is not understood, these experiments seem to confirm the assumption of electro-acupuncture's positive influence on the closing mechanism of the female urethra.