Urinary incontinence: the management of urinary incontinence in women

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

Key priorities for implementation

See algorithm below

Indications for referral

• Urgently refer women with any of the following:*
  • microscopic haematuria if aged 50 years and older
  • visible haematuria
  • recurrent or persisting UTI associated with haematuria if aged 40 years and older
  • suspected pelvic mass arising from the urinary tract
• Refer women with:
  • symptomatic prolapse visible at or below the vaginal introitus
  • palpable bladder on bimanual or physical examination after voiding.
• Consider referring women with:
  • persisting bladder or urethral pain
  • clinically benign pelvic masses
  • associated faecal incontinence
  • suspected neurological disease
  • voiding difficulty
  • suspected urogenital fistulae
  • previous continence surgery
  • previous pelvic cancer surgery
  • previous pelvic radiation therapy.

* NICE's 'Referral guidelines for suspected cancer' (www.nice.org.uk/CG027) define urgent referral as the patient being seen within the national target for urgent referrals (currently 2 weeks)

full guideline available from…
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, MidCity Place, 71 High Holborn, London WC1V 6NA
guidance.nice.org.uk/CG40

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Urinary incontinence: the management of urinary incontinence in women. October 2006