Red Light Therapy for Urinary Incontinence and Menopause
Science, Symptoms, and Modern Solutions for Women
For millions of women, stress urinary incontinence is more than just an “oops” moment, it’s the silent embarrassment that makes you cross your legs before you laugh, scan a room for the nearest bathroom, or say “no thanks” to trampolining with the kids. It’s not just nerves and muscles at play; it’s confidence, self-esteem, and the ability to run, jump, sneeze, or dance without a second thought.
How many women reading this have planned out your days or outfits, maybe even our jokes - around avoiding a leak? Maybe you keep a secret stash of pads in your purse or know which yoga poses spell trouble. If you’ve ever laughed so hard you’ve crossed your legs and hoped for the best, you’re definitely not alone—and you deserve better.
That’s why helping women with stress urinary incontinence truly matters: because dignity, spontaneity, and feeling comfortable in your body should not be luxuries. Every woman deserves to laugh out loud, lift her grandchild, or cheer at a soccer game with total confidence (and dry underwear!).
Let’s talk about the science and the hope - that can put you back in charge of your bladder and your life.
What Is Stress Urinary Incontinence - and Why Does It Matter?
Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is the unintentional leakage of urine during activities that raise abdominal pressure, like coughing, sneezing, laughing, jumping, or lifting. It happens when the pelvic floor muscles and tissues are weakened and no longer adequately support the bladder and urethra, especially common during and after menopause.
What Causes SUI?
· Childbirth and pregnancy: Damage to muscles and nerves.
· Menopause and hormonal changes: Loss of tissue elasticity and collagen.
· Obesity, chronic coughing, heavy lifting: Added strain on pelvic floor.
· Aging, pelvic surgery, trauma: Reduced support and muscle tone.
How Common Is SUI?
· Over 60% of adult women in the US experience some type of urinary incontinence.
· SUI is the most common type, affecting at least 28 million US women—not just those who are older or have had children.
Evidence-Based Treatments for SUI
There are several ways to manage stress urinary incontinence (SUI), starting with simple and conservative options. The first step is usually pelvic floor physical therapy, which includes exercises that strengthen the muscles supporting the bladder and are proven to help with mild to moderate SUI. Some women use pessaries, which are removable devices placed in the vagina to help support the bladder and urethra, these can be very effective, with up to 83% of women reporting satisfaction. Making lifestyle changes such as weight loss, treating chronic cough, and avoiding foods or drinks that irritate the bladder can also make a big difference. For menopausal women, topical estrogen creams may help, and researchers are studying other medications as well.
If these methods are not enough, doctors might suggest surgery. The most common surgical treatment is called a mid-urethral sling, which has a high success rate, helping 57 to 86 out of 100 women. Other options like bulking injections or other surgical procedures may be considered for women whose SUI does not improve with standard treatments. Many women also look for natural remedies, non-hormonal options, or device-based therapies to include in their treatment plans.
The Science: Red Light Therapy for Menopause and SUI
Recent clinical research puts the spotlight on red light therapy for pelvic floor health, especially in women dealing with stress urinary incontinence and genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM).
What Were The Most Meaningful Results?
In a recent 2025 study with 41 women, doctors tested a red light therapy treatment for women with menopause-related problems and bladder leaks. Here’s what happened after they used the treatment once a week for 8 weeks:
Healthier Vaginas:
After the treatment, women’s vaginal health scores went up by about 60%. This means their tissue felt stronger, more moist, and healthier overall.Fewer Bladder Leaks:
The number of bladder leaks (urine accidents) dropped by about one-third (about 37%). Daily problems like urgency and the impact on their lives improved by about 30–45%.Better Sex for Those With Menopause Symptoms:
Women who struggled with dryness and pain during sex because of menopause saw big improvements:Comfortable lubrication (wetness) improved by over 50%
Pain during sex dropped by about 40%
Enjoyment and overall sexual health scores went up by about 25%
Feeling Better Overall:
Women with bladder leaks felt much better about their health. Their scores for things like confidence, energy, and less stress about leaks improved by about 40–60%.No Side Effects:
No one reported pain, burning, or infection from the treatment.
In other words:
Women who got this easy red light treatment felt a lot better, had fewer leaks, and enjoyed healthier, more comfortable lives - without any side effects. And now you can do it safely and in the privacy of your own home with the brilliant Fringe wand (I have it and love mine).
Why Red Light Therapy Works
· Red and near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths penetrate the vaginal mucosa, stimulating cellular repair, boosting collagen, enhancing blood flow, and reducing inflammation.
· LED devices engineered for pelvic health follow similar clinical principles and can be effective for at-home use when set to proper protocols and dosing.
Can LEDs Match Lasers for Vaginal Health? When it comes to vaginas - yes!
You might have read that lasers provide deeper tissue penetration than LEDs due to their focused, coherent beams. While this is technically true for muscles, joints and organs deep in the body - for the vaginal mucosa, the difference is minimal, and practical results are comparable.
The vaginal wall is non-keratinized and thin, so light easily penetrates several millimeters - enough to affect the target tissues underlying the mucosa.
Clinical trials and published reviews confirm that LED devices with correct wavelengths and dosing provide similar improvements in vaginal health, dryness, and even sexual function as observed with lasers for most pelvic health indications.
The key to results is using a protocol with the proper wavelength, intensity, and consistent sessions.
Women & Therapists
· SUI is highly common and undertreated, but new technologies like red light therapy for SUI and menopause are now scientifically validated.
· Pelvic health professionals and women can consider incorporating photobiomodulation therapy (like clinical or at-home red/NIR LED devices) into the broader spectrum of SUI and menopause management.
· Best results come with consistent use and evidence-based protocols.
Peeing when you sneeze might be common - but it’s not normal, let’s get some light inside so you feel more like yourself - sooner.
Tracy
Recent Case Studies (August 2025)
Another study tested a new and advanced laser therapy for women with stress urinary incontinence, but the protocol is much more complicated to replicate outside of a clinic but I know there’s lots of PTs who are interested in PBM research. The treatment involved placing catheters and special laser fibers inside the bladder and vagina, not something most women would want to try at home or even find comfortable. Even though this protocol was clinically challenging, the improvements in bladder control and quality of life were nearly as impressive as the results seen in simpler vaginal-only light therapy studies.
The women’s incontinence symptoms got much better:
Their scores on two different health quizzes (OABSS and QUID questionnaires) improved by more than 60%. This means way fewer leaks and much better bladder control.
In just one month, the women already felt about 50% better. By the end of three months, almost everyone felt at least 80% better.
And their sex lives improved (better quality and more frequent sex).
Resources
Gasparyan K, Resongles A, et al. "The efficacy of low-level laser therapy in alleviating genitourinary syndrome of menopause and stress urinary incontinence: the pilot study." Frontiers in Medicine. 2025; PMC12141027.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12141027/
Hoseinzade F, Ayazi M, Tafazoli Harandi N, Weber MH, Zandi Mehran Y, Mirzadeh S. Effect of Innovative Low-level Laser Therapy Protocol for Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Case Series Study. GMJ. 2025;14:e3841.
1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/stress-incontinence/symptoms-causes/syc-20355727
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539769/
3. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000891.htm
4. https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/stress-incontinence
6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35030139/
7. https://www.auajournals.org/doi/10.1097/JU.0000000000001634
8. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12042177/
9. https://gpm.amegroups.org/article/view/10262/html
11. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9980499/
12. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6648197/
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