Aims: To determine the feasibility of intraurethral electrical stimulation to evoke increases in urethral pressure and prevent urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) episodes in women. Methods: Women with UUI based on the LUTS questionnaire were recruited. Stimulation amplitude was varied at different locations along the urethra, different stimulation rates, and with the bladder empty and filled to first sensation while measuring evoked urethral pressures and noting sensation. Cystometry and

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... tion studies, with and without intraurethral stimulation were performed to determine if stimulation prevented incontinence episodes. Results: Eleven women (median age 70, range 27-85) with UUI participated in the study. Sensation thresholds were higher for proximal urethral stimulation and for stimulation at lower frequencies (1 Hz). Negligible increases in urethral pressure were observed despite large differences in tolerated stimulation amplitudes between subjects. A correlation between sensory thresholds and baseline urethral pressure was observed. Only one subject demonstrated phasic detrusor overactivity incontinence (DOI). Two had urinary incontinence with provocative maneuvers. In all three cases, intraurethral stimulation did not prevent urine loss. Conclusions: Intraurethral electrical stimulation did not increase urethral pressures in women with UUI or prevent the observed DOI. These findings suggest future studies should explore whether direct urethral motor neuron stimulation increases urethral pressures sufficiently to prevent urgency incontinence episodes, as well as if urethral stimulation prevents urethral relaxation in the absence of increases in urethral pressure. Motor testing (e.g. urethral pressure profiles) should be performed in conjunction with current perception testing to clarify whether patients have sensory or general neurological impairment.