The prevention of lower urinary tract symptoms (PLUS) research consortium: A transdisciplinary approach toward promoting bladder health and preventing lower urinary tract symptoms in women across the life course

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are highly prevalent in women, and are expected to impose a growing burden to individuals and society as the population ages. The predominance of research related to LUTS has focused on underlying pathology, disease mechanisms, or the efficacy of treatments for women with LUTS. Although this research has been vital for helping to reduce or ameliorate LUTS conditions, it has done little to prevent the onset of LUTS. Health promotion and prevention require an expansion of scientific inquiry beyond the traditional paradigm of studying disease mechanisms and treatment to the creation of an evidence base to support recommendations for bladder health promotion and, in turn, prevention of LUTS. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) introduced the concept of prevention as an important priority for women's urologic research as a prelude to supporting the formation of the Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (PLUS) research consortium. In this article, we introduce the PLUS research consortium to the scientific community; share the innovative paradigms by which the consortium operates; and describe its unique research mission: to identify factors that promote bladder health across the life course and prevent the onset of LUTS in girls and women

Market destinations of Illinois grain

Cover title

Voided Volume for Assessment of Bladder Emptying After Female Pelvic Floor Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

IMPORTANCE: To study alternative voiding trial (VT) methods after urogynecologic surgery that may potentially decrease catheterization. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to compare voiding assessment based on a minimum spontaneous voided volume of 150 mL with the standard retrograde fill (RF) approach in women after urogynecologic procedures. STUDY DESIGN: Women undergoing urogynecologic surgery were randomized to RF or spontaneous void (SV) groups. Women in the RF group had their bladders backfilled with 300 mL of saline before catheter removal, those in the SV group did not. To pass the VT, patients in the RF group were required to void 150 mL at one time within 60 minutes, and patients in the SV group had to do the same within 6 hours. The primary outcome was the VT failure rate. We also compared the false pass rate, urinary tract infections, satisfaction, and preference of VT method. RESULTS: One hundred nine women were enrolled in the study, 54 had SV and 55 underwent RF. Baseline characteristics were not significantly different other than history of prior hysterectomy. There was no significant difference in procedures between the groups. There was no difference in VT failure rate between the groups-SV (7.4%) and RF (12.7%, P = 0.39). The false pass rate was 0 in each group. Urinary tract infection rates were similar between SV (14.8%) and RF (14.5%) groups ( P = 0.34). Patient satisfaction for VT method was not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous VT was not superior to retrograde void trial. Therefore, we cannot recommend one method of VT after urogynecologic surgery.CondensationVoiding assessment based on minimum SV of 150 mL is comparable with VT with RF after surgeries for prolapse and urinary incontinence

Women urologists: trends in mentoring and career choices

Introduction We examined trends in the mentorship and career choices of women urologists. Methods An anonymous electronic survey was distributed to 1,563 women urologists in January 2015. Descriptive data are presented as the percent and mean. Results Of the 1,563 emails sent 365 surveys were completed for a 23% response rate. Practicing women urologists were most likely to be in academic practice (85 of 218 or 39%) or group practice (96 of 218 or 44%). Of 215 women urologists 108 (almost 45%) held a traditional academic rank of professor, associate professor or assistant professor. Of practicing female urologists 52% had completed fellowship training. In the early 1990s a traditional academic rank was held by 22% to 31% of women compared to 44.6% in the current study. Fellowship trained women urologists were more likely to hold a traditional academic rank (

Women urologists: changing trends in the workforce

Objective To characterize the current workforce of women urologists in the United States. Materials and Methods An anonymous electronic survey was sent to all members of the Society of Women in Urology and all female non-Society of Women in Urology members of the American Urologic Association. The survey was distributed in January of 2015. Demographic, work, and personal life data were collected. Results Of 1563 e-mails with a link to our survey sent to women urologists in the United States, 365 surveys were completed for a 23% response rate. The average age of all participants was 39 years (range 25-73 years). Practicing women urologists had an average age of 44 years (range 32-65 years) compared to the average age (53 years) of all practicing urologists reported in the 2014 American Urologic Association Census. The majority of practicing female urologists live and work in a population of >1 million whereas a few live and work in rural areas. Practicing women urologists are most likely to work academic or group practice. Twenty percent of practicing women urologists reported working part-time, but almost 70% report working >50 hours/week. Conclusion Women urologists in the United States are younger than their male counterparts and most work full-time in urban academic centers

Healthy bladder storage and emptying functions in community-dwelling women measured by a 2-day bladder health diary.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of healthy bladder storage and emptying function in community-dwelling women is not well established. METHODS: A planned secondary analysis of a US cross-sectional study designed to validate a bladder health instrument was conducted in women aged ≥18 years. A subset was invited to complete the novel 2-day bladder health diary capturing bladder storage and emptying experiences. Overall healthy bladder function was defined as ≤8 waking/daytime voids and ≤1 void during sleeping/nighttime; along with the absence of leakage, urgency, emptying difficulties (initiation, flow, efficacy, relief of urge sensation) and pain. Descriptive statistics of healthy bladder functions and regression models of factors associated with healthy function are reported. RESULTS: Of the 383 invited, 237 (62%) eligible women returned complete dairies. Of these, 12% (29/237) met criteria for overall healthy bladder function. Most (96%) denied pain, 74% had healthy daytime and 83% had healthy nighttime voiding frequency, 64% were continent, 36% reported healthy emptying and 30% denied any urgency episodes. Middle income (odds ratio [OR]:95% confidence interval [CI] = 11.4:1.9-67.4 for $75k-$99 999 vs. $25 000-$49 999), Graduate education (4.8:1.4-17) and previously seeking treatment for bladder problems (OR:95%CI = 0.1; 0-0.9) were associated with overall healthy function. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of overall healthy bladder function was very low based on our strict definition of health as measured on a 2-day diary. However, most women had healthy voiding frequency and denied pain or urinary leakage. Postvoid dribbling and urgency most commonly contributed to an overall unhealthy bladder. Further investigation is needed to determine whether these diary derived measures are meaningful for patient-oriented bladder health research