[Management of female stress urinary incontinence in a specialized unit]

Urinary exertional incontinence is a very common condition which requires a broad range of therapeutic options being available. Besides, the creation of specialised units in urology is now evident, one of the areas involved being Urogynaecology. To focus the issue of female urinary incontinence, the following should be considered: to begin with, treatment is not imperative, patients must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, the least invasive principle must prevail, diagnosis must be early, and it should be taken into account that primary and secondary prevention is both possible and necessary. A working pattern was designed accordingly, to sustain therapeutic decisions, which consisted in a detailed anamnesis, complete examination and application of an established diagnostic-therapeutic algorithm. Even so, a therapeutic, medical or surgical decision will be chosen and patients will be monitored at one, four and sixteen months after completion of treatment. To achieve good results in the management of female urinary exertional incontinence it is essential to include a large number of patients. In fact, the key is to establish a close collaboration with the gynaecologists.