Join a Study

You may be eligible to join a research study at Sunnybrook evaluating a laser procedure for stress urinary incontinence. The treatment uses a laser to target the supporting muscles of the vagina, and also the tissue around the urethra (the tube that urine passes through).

This laser treatment is approved by Health Canada for use in women to treat urinary incontinence and other conditions like thinning vaginal tissues.

You are eligible if:

• You’re healthy, over the age of 18, and have been diagnosed with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) which includes urine leaking with coughing, sneezing, exercising
• Not pregnant or planning to become pregnant over the next two years
• Have not had previous surgery for stress urinary incontinence involving a synthetic mesh sling
• Willing and able to attend all study appointments: approximately six to eight appointments over a 24-month time period

Participants will be randomly selected to receive either:

1. Two laser treatments, at no cost, 6 weeks apart, OR
2. Two placebo treatments, 6 weeks apart.

Initially, you will not be told which treatment you received. This is important in order to compare the effect of the laser treatment with the placebo and ultimately determine if the laser approach is effective. After the two treatments, you will be asked to return at six weeks and six months for assessment.

If you initially received the placebo, you will be notified at the six-month return visit and you may, at that point, choose to receive the active laser treatment at no cost. There will also be a 12 and 24-month follow-up assessment. Follow-up visits involve assessments through questionnaires and urine pad weights.

The treatment takes approximately 20 minutes, and appointment times are about one hour; this will take place at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

Please note compensation is not provided.

To participate:

For more information please contact Joanne Lawrence at 416-480-6100 ext. 62309 or joanne.lawrence@sunnybrook.ca.

Are you post-menopausal? Do you experience these uncomfortable symptoms:

• Vaginal dryness, itching and irritation
• Painful intercourse
• Bladder infections
• Painful urination
• Urgent/frequent urination

Fifty per cent of women experience genitourinary syndrome of menopause, which means that you have genital, sexual and urinary symptoms following menopause. Standard treatments for this condition include vaginal estrogen (hormone replacement) and vaginal lubricants and moisturizers inserted into the vagina two times per week. These treatments require women to use them for a prolonged, often lifelong, period of time.

You may be eligible to join a research study at Sunnybrook evaluating a laser procedure for menopause symptoms. An innovative new LASER treatment is being studied to treat these uncomfortable symptoms.

To participate:

If you are interested in participating in this study, or have any questions, please contact our study nurse Joanne Lawrence at 416-480-6100 ext. 62309 or joanne.lawrence@sunnybrook.ca.