Referral patterns for pelvic floor disorders

To determine referral patterns to the gynecology directorate for symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence

A prospective multicenter survey of three district general hospitals in Northwest England. Referral letters sent by family physicians to consultants were studied over a three-month period. Main outcome measures were presenting complaints of prolapse and incontinence

Two thousand seven hundred sixty-nine referral letters were surveyed. Urogynecological complaints (18.4%) were the second most common reason for referral. Menstrual irregularities (21.9%) were the commonest presenting complaint. Among these urogynecology referrals, 38.4% (196/510) were for urinary incontinence (UI), 36.2% (185/510) were for symptomatic prolapse (POP), and 25.3% (129/510) were referred with combined complaints of POP and UI. Of all urogynecological referrals, 56% were for women below 60 years of age. Twenty percent of those with urogynecological complaints had undergone prior hysterectomy.

Pelvic floor disorders were the second most common reason for referral to gynecologists.