Pelvic Floor Muscle Training for Urinary Incontinence in Elderly and PCOD Women: A Narrative Review

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a prevalent and often underreported condition in women, significantly impairing physical, emotional, and social quality of life. The incidence is particularly high among elderly women and those with Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD), where hormonal imbalances, metabolic dysfunction, and pelvic floor muscle weakening contribute to symptom severity. Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is an established conservative treatment that strengthens musculature, improves bladder control, and reduces the need for surgical or pharmacological intervention. This review aims to examine the efficacy of PFMT in these specific populations, comparing it with other conservative and invasive therapies.

A comprehensive literature review was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Cochrane Library, PEDro, and CINAHL, including publications from 2000 to 2025. Results indicate that PFMT significantly improves continence in elderly women, reducing leakage frequency, improving muscle strength, and enhancing quality of life. Although direct research in PCOD populations is limited, physiological similarities suggest PFMT may provide similar benefits. Despite evidence supporting PFMT, there is a lack of standardized protocols and underrepresentation of PCOD patients in clinical trials.

This review highlights the need for future research to define optimized, population-specific PFMT interventions and to establish long-term outcomes. Proactive screening and tailored therapy could prevent progression of UI and reduce associated complications in both elderly and PCOD women.