Electroacupuncture as a Treatment for Refractory Overactive Bladder
Launched by CHELSEA AND WESTMINSTER NHS FOUNDATION TRUST · Aug 8, 2025
Trial Information
Current as of August 25, 2025
Not yet recruiting
Keywords
ClinConnect Summary
This clinical trial is studying whether a treatment called electroacupuncture (EA) can help women with overactive bladder (OAB) as well as another treatment called percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS). Overactive bladder causes symptoms like sudden urges to urinate, leaking urine, or needing to go to the bathroom many times during the night. The study will also check if electroacupuncture is an easy and acceptable option for women to use compared to these other treatments. To do this, researchers will compare three groups: one receiving electroacupuncture, one receiving PTNS, and one receiving a fake (sham) acupuncture treatment.
Women aged 18 or older who have had OAB symptoms for at least three months and did not get better with first treatments may be able to join. Participants will have one treatment session each week for 12 weeks and will be asked to keep daily symptom diaries and fill out questionnaires about how their symptoms affect their quality of life and what they think about the treatment. Follow-up visits will happen after the treatment ends to see how well the treatments worked. The trial is not yet recruiting and will take place at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London. Some women won’t be able to join, such as those who are pregnant, have certain medical conditions, or have had recent acupuncture for OAB. This study aims to find better ways to help women manage overactive bladder symptoms comfortably and effectively.
Gender
FEMALE
Eligibility criteria
- Inclusion Criteria:
- Participants must meet all of the following criteria:
- • Female adults aged 18 years or older.
- • Diagnosed with overactive bladder syndrome (ICIQ-OAB score ≥10).
- • Symptoms present for at least three months and refractory to first-line treatments.
- • Willing to refrain from starting new bladder-related treatments during the study period.
- • Able and willing to provide written informed consent.
- Exclusion Criteria:
- * Participants meeting any of the following criteria will be excluded:
- • Pregnant or planning pregnancy during the study period.
- • Bleeding disorders.
- • Severe needle phobia.
- • Presence of a pacemaker.
- • Active cancer diagnosis.
- • Active urinary tract infections or other urological conditions requiring urgent intervention.
- • Participation in another clinical trial for bladder dysfunction within the past six months.
- • Neurological conditions affecting continence (e.g., diabetic neuropathy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease).
- • Life-threatening infections.
- • Severe cognitive deficits, unconsciousness, dementia (e.g., Alzheimer's or other neurodegenerative diseases).
- • History of incontinence surgery.
- • Previous acupuncture for OAB within the past two months.
- • History of thromboses.
- • Recovering from or suffering from a serious illness or major surgery.
About Chelsea And Westminster Nhs Foundation Trust
Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust is a leading healthcare organization in the UK, dedicated to delivering high-quality patient care and advancing medical research. With a focus on innovation and excellence, the Trust actively engages in clinical trials to evaluate new treatments and improve health outcomes. Its multidisciplinary team collaborates with various stakeholders to ensure rigorous study design, ethical conduct, and comprehensive patient safety. By fostering an environment of collaboration and research, Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust aims to contribute significantly to the advancement of medical knowledge and the enhancement of healthcare practices.
Contacts
Jennifer Cobb
Immunology at National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Locations
London, , United Kingdom
Patients applied
Trial Officials
Lesley Professor Regan
Study Chair
Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Consultant in Gynaecology at the Imperial College and Consultant at NHS Trust St Mary's Hospital Campus
Deepa Dr Abichandani
Study Chair
Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy Employability Lead for School of Allied and Community Health London South Bank Universit
Mark Pro. Johnson
Study Chair
Senior Lecturer, Consultant in Obstetrics and Obstetric Medicine Charing Cross Hospital. And Chelsea and Westminster NHS Trust Imperial College London Clinical Chair in Obstetrics Department of Metabolism, Digestion an
Rufus Mr. Cartwright
Study Director
Uro-gynaecologist consultant and Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Hammersmith Campus and Celsea and Westminster NHS Trust Gynaecology and Departm
Elmas X Court
Principal Investigator
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and Imperial College London
Timeline
First submit
Trial launched
Trial updated
Estimated completion
Not reported