Urinary tract disorders in women

1. Big picture

Urinary tract disorders in women are a core urogynaecology topic. They include urinary incontinence, lower urinary tract symptoms, urinary tract infection, recurrent cystitis, urinary retention, voiding dysfunction, fistulae, prolapse-related urinary problems, bladder pain syndrome, and urinary complications of pregnancy, childbirth, surgery, and gynaecological malignancy.

The examiner wants you to think clinically:

Woman with urinary symptoms
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Is it infection, incontinence, obstruction, retention, fistula, prolapse, pain syndrome, pregnancy-related disease, or malignancy?
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Rule out red flags
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Do focused pelvic + urinary assessment
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Use simple tests first: urinalysis, pregnancy test, urine culture, post-void residual
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Treat according to the mechanism

NICE guidance covers assessment and management of urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse in adult women, including conservative, pharmacological, and surgical options. ([NICE][1])

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