Referral patterns for pelvic floor disorders.

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

METHODS: 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

RESULTS: 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.

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