What do systematic reviews say?

Electrical stimulation vs pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT)

Electrical stimulation showed no clear difference in adverse effects compared with pelvic floor muscle training (low certainty).

• Electrical stimulation with non‐implanted devices for stress urinary incontinence in women 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 5 [0.25, 99.16]
  3 studies · 121 participants
  Low

Electrical stimulation vs vaginal cones alone

Electrical stimulation showed no clear difference in adverse effects compared with vaginal cones (low certainty).

• Electrical stimulation with non‐implanted devices for stress urinary incontinence in women 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.54 [0.11, 2.7]
  1 study · 52 participants
  Low

Electrical stimulation vs PFMT plus vaginal cones

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Electrical stimulation with non‐implanted devices for stress urinary incontinence in women 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Electrical stimulation vs drug therapy

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Electrical stimulation with non‐implanted devices for stress urinary incontinence in women 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Electrical stimulation vs No active treatment (control)

It is very uncertain whether electrical stimulation changes adverse effects compared with no active treatment (very low certainty).

• Electrical stimulation with non‐implanted devices for stress urinary incontinence in women 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 5.96 [0.3, 118.7]
  3 studies · 103 participants
  Very low

Electrical stimulation vs sham

Electrical stimulation showed no clear difference in adverse effects compared with sham treatment (low certainty).

• Electrical stimulation with non‐implanted devices for stress urinary incontinence in women 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 2.01 [0.52, 7.67]
  4 studies · 233 participants
  Low

Electrical stimulation vs pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT)

• Electrical stimulation with non‐implanted electrodes for overactive bladder in adults 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies · 0 participants
  GRADE not reported

Electrical stimulation vs pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) plus biofeedback

• Electrical stimulation with non‐implanted electrodes for overactive bladder in adults 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies · 0 participants
  GRADE not reported

Electrical stimulation vs magnetic stimulation alone

• Electrical stimulation with non‐implanted electrodes for overactive bladder in adults 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 32 participants
  Very low

Electrical stimulation vs laseropuncture/electro‐acupuncture

• Electrical stimulation with non‐implanted electrodes for overactive bladder in adults 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies · 0 participants
  GRADE not reported

Electrical stimulation vs No active treatment (control)

• Electrical stimulation with non‐implanted electrodes for overactive bladder in adults 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies · 0 participants
  GRADE not reported

Electrical stimulation vs Placebo / sham solution

Electrical stimulation showed no clear difference in adverse effects compared with placebo or sham treatment (low certainty).

• Electrical stimulation with non‐implanted electrodes for overactive bladder in adults 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.24 [0.84, 1.83]
  3 studies · 450 participants
  Low

PFMT added to electrical stimulation vs pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT)

• Electrical stimulation with non‐implanted devices for stress urinary incontinence in women 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 133 participants
  Low

Electrical stimulation plus surgery vs surgery

It is very uncertain whether electrical stimulation plus surgery changes adverse effects compared with surgery (very low certainty).

• Electrical stimulation with non‐implanted devices for stress urinary incontinence in women 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1 [0.37, 2.72]
  1 study · 120 participants
  Very low

Electrical stimulation (ES) once a week vs ES three times a week

• Electrical stimulation with non‐implanted electrodes for overactive bladder in adults 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 35 participants
  Very low

Electrical stimulation plus drug therapy vs drug therapy alone

It is very uncertain whether electrical stimulation plus drug therapy changes adverse effects compared with drug therapy alone (very low certainty).

• Electrical stimulation with non‐implanted electrodes for overactive bladder in adults 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.45 [0.04, 4.55]
  1 study · 38 participants
  Very low

Sensory threshold electrical stimulation (ES) vs motor threshold ES

• Electrical stimulation with non‐implanted electrodes for overactive bladder in adults 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies · 0 participants
  GRADE not reported

Electrical stimulation plus behavioural therapy vs behavioural therapy alone

• Electrical stimulation with non‐implanted electrodes for overactive bladder in adults 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies · 0 participants
  GRADE not reported

PFMT added to electrical stimulation vs pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT)

• Electrical stimulation with non‐implanted electrodes for overactive bladder in adults 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 51 participants
  Very low

Electrical stimulation vs drug therapy

Electrical stimulation may leads to lower adverse effects ‐ ES versus oxybutynin compared with drug therapy (low certainty).

• Electrical stimulation with non‐implanted electrodes for overactive bladder in adults 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.11 [0.01, 0.84]
  2 studies · 79 participants
  Low