Non-neurogenic female voiding dysfunction

The pathophysiological mechanisms of female voiding phase dysfunction are poorly understood, and there are neither standard definitions nor guidelines for diagnosis and treatment. The aim of this review is to present up-to-date data and controversies associated with non-neurogenic female voiding dysfunction.

Conceptually, voiding phase dysfunction may have bladder or urethral causes. Bladder causes include detrusor contraction of inadequate magnitude or duration to effect bladder emptying (detrusor underactivity), or the absence of detrusor contraction (detrusor arreflexia). Urethral causes consist of bladder outlet obstruction as a result of urethral overactivity (functional obstruction), or anatomical (mechanical obstruction) pathologies. The specific prevalence and contribution of each of the above mechanisms is unknown. Furthermore, a correct and timely diagnosis may be difficult, because clinical features are very similar to those of other lower urinary tract symptoms, and diagnostic modalities are often inconclusive or even misleading. A full urodynamic evaluation is essential in making the diagnosis; however, standard urodynamic definitions are still lacking. In the following review, we will present recent findings associated with the prevalence, etiology and diagnosis of each of the different categories of female voiding phase dysfunction, and highlight new advances presented during the past year.

Further epidemiological and pathophysiological investigations are needed to evaluate the causes and main risk factors of voiding dysfunction in women. A better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms associated with this challenging condition may provide the possibility to use appropriate diagnostic and treatment modalities, thus avoiding unnecessary interventions.