European Board and College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (EBCOG) position statement on the use of laser vaginal devices for treatment of genitourinary syndrome of menopause, vaginal laxity, pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence.

One in three women will experience pelvic floor disorders in her lifetime and nearly 60 percent of postmenopausal women are affected by vaginal dryness. Conservative management is recommended as first line treatment for pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence. Also, vaginal estrogens are often prescribed for symptomatic vaginal atrophy. Lasers have been used in cosmetic industry for connective tissue remodeling and repair of skin. Their use in the last decade for treating genitourinary symptoms of menopause, pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence has gained popularity but there is lack of robust evidence to support its use in routine practice. The European Board and College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology calls for high quality evidence with patient related outcome measures before adopting to routine clinical practice.

Should hormone replacement therapy (any route of administration) be considered in all postmenopausal women with lower urinary tract symptoms? Report from the ICI-RS 2023.

AIMS: This International Consultation on Incontinence-Research Society report aims to summarize the evidence and uncertainties regarding the use of hormone replacement therapy by any route in the management of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) including recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTI), with a review of special considerations for the elderly. Research question proposals to further this field have been highlighted. METHODS: An overview of the existing evidence, guidelines, and consensus regarding the use of topical or systemic estrogens in the management of LUTS. RESULTS: There are currently evidence and recommendations to offer topical estrogens to postmenopausal women with overactive bladder symptoms as well as postmenopausal women with rUTIs. Systemic estrogens however have been shown in a meta-analysis to have a negative effect on LUTS and, therefore are not currently recommended. CONCLUSIONS: Although available evidence and recommendations exist for the use of topical estrogens, few women are commenced on these in primary care. There remain large gaps still within our knowledge of the use of estrogens within the management of LUTS, particularly on when it should be commenced, the length of time treatment should be continued for, and barriers to prescribing.

A national survey of UK practice for day-case vaginal prolapse surgery: Unrealistic expectations?

OBJECTIVE: The UK NHS Getting It Right First Time report (2021) recommended that a significant proportion of native tissue vaginal prolapse operations should be undertaken as day-case procedures (target: 80% anterior compartment, 70% posterior compartment, 60% combined anterior/posterior compartment). The evidence for perioperative care, options for anaesthesia and outcomes of day-case vaginal prolapse surgery is limited. This study aimed to establish current practice amongst UK gynaecologists and explore perceived barriers to implementing day-case surgery for pelvic organ prolapse. Study design A pre-tested 16-item survey was emailed to British Society of Urogynaecology members in July 2022. This survey recorded rates of day-case prolapse surgeries, barriers to implementation and practices for managing urethral catheters, vaginal packs, intraoperative anaesthetics and perioperative care. Responses to free-text questions were independently analysed by two of the authors and underwent thematic analysis. RESULTS: 121 eligible responses were received (28 % response-rate): 41 % never undertook day-case prolapse repair, 16 % undertook < 5 per year and 26 % undertook > 20 cases per year. There was no significant difference in training level or hospital setting between those groups. Reasons cited for not undertaking day-case prolapse surgery included concerns about vaginal packs and urinary catheters (92 %) postoperative complications (67 %), early discharge of elderly patients (60 %) and a lack of published evidence (39 %) or national guidance (35 %). For those currently undertaking day-case prolapse surgery; 67 % used general anaesthesia, 15 % spinal with short-acting local anaesthetic, 14 % spinal with long-acting local anaesthetic and 3 % local anaesthetic alone. Vaginal packs and self-retaining urethral catheters were used by 68 % and 70 % respectively. Concerns regarding the management of vaginal packs and urinary catheters were the most frequently cited barrier to implementing day-case surgery for pelvic organ prolapse amongst free-text responses. There were wide variations in managing catheters and packs, and in managing readmissions. CONCLUSIONS: There is significant variation in uptake and practice for day-case prolapse surgery in the UK, with legitimate clinical concerns a barrier to its implementation. Further evaluation and development of robust, evidence-based management pathways are required to make day-case prolapse surgery consistent, feasible and defensible in clinical practice.

Do we need better information to advise women with stress incontinence on their choice of surgery? Report from the ICI-RS 2018.

AIMS: The regulatory warnings about the safety of the synthetic midurethral slings (MUS) had a significant effect on how patients and physicians approach surgical management of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). In this changing landscape, the purpose of this research Think Tank (TT) was to provide an update of the current knowledge about the safety and efficacy of SUI surgery, to review patient goals and expectations and to identify factors affecting the decision making for surgery. METHODS: This is a consensus report of the proceedings of TT3: "Do we need better information to advise women with stress incontinence on their choice of surgery?" from the annual International Consultation on Incontinence-Research Society (ICI-RS), June 2018. RESULTS: Despite the body of evidence supporting the continued use of MUS, the short follow-up of most of the studies and the lack of "real life" data regarding pain and sexual dysfunction make the development of recommendations challenging. Women with SUI are often happy to "trade" efficacy for a procedure with less associated morbidity and therefore it is not always the procedure with the highest success rate that is ultimately chosen. However, a number of factors influence treatment decision and there is limited evidence about what level of all these factors women are willing to tolerate for a given success rate, or how much success they are willing to trade for a lower complication rate. CONCLUSIONS: The ICI-RS proposed research questions which may be able to assist in improving the counseling and management of women with SUI.

Changing surgical trends for female stress urinary incontinence in England.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) surgery has significantly evolved with the introduction of synthetic midurethral slings (MUS). However, following reports from the US Food and Drug Administration and European Commission, the use of vaginal meshes in urogynaecology has been largely scrutinised. We analysed trends in female SUI surgery in England from 2000 to 2017. METHODS: The Hospital Episode Statistics database was retrieved from the Health and Social Care Information Centre website. Specific four-character codes of the evolving OPCS-4 coding system were used to quantify SUI operations. RESULTS: We analysed 180,773 admissions from 2000 to 2017. A steep rise in MUS use was noted until 2008-2009, followed by a consistent drop, with a nadir of 6383 procedures in 2016-2017. Removal of MUS has become increasingly popular, with a peak of 591 in 2012-2013. Numbers for traditional continence operations remained low. Colposuspensions markedly decreased to 189 in 2012-2013, with a slight positive trend only in the last few years, while autologous sling use costantly dropped from 262 to 124 throughout the study period. Admissions for urethral bulking agents increased from 650 to 1324 in the last 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: MUS represents the most commonly performed procedure for SUI, despite an obvious reduction in the last 8 years. Urethral bulking agents are becoming more popular, while the numbers of colposuspensions and autologous slings are still low. Training programmes should take into account current shifts in surgical practice.

Trends in prolapse surgery in England.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Women have a lifetime risk of undergoing pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery of 11-19%. Traditional native tissue repairs are associated with reoperation rates of approximately 11% after 20 years. Surgery with mesh augmentation was introduced to improve anatomic outcomes. However, the use of synthetic meshes in urogynaecological procedures has been scrutinised by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and by the European Commission (SCENIHR). We aimed to review trends in pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery in England. METHODS: Data were collected from the national hospital episode statistics database. Procedure and interventions-4 character tables were used to quantify POP operations. Annual reports from 2005 to 2016 were considered. RESULTS: The total number of POP procedures increased from 2005, reaching a peak in 2014 (N = 29,228). With regard to vaginal prolapse, native tissue repairs represented more than 90% of the procedures, whereas surgical meshes were considered in a few selected cases. The number of sacrospinous ligament fixations (SSLFs) grew more than 3 times over the years, whereas sacrocolpopexy remained stable. To treat vault prolapse, transvaginal surgical meshes have been progressively abandoned. We also noted a steady increase in uterine-sparing, and obliterative procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Following FDA and SCENIHR warnings, a positive trend for meshes has only been seen in uterine-sparing surgery. Native tissue repairs constitute the vast majority of POP operations. SSLFs have been increasingly performed to achieve apical support. Urogynaecologists' training should take into account shifts in surgical practice.

Does assessing urethral function allow the selection of the optimal therapy for recurrent SUI? Report from the ICI-RS 2017.

AIMS: The management of recurrent stress urinary incontinence following failed previous continence surgery remains challenging. Whilst the role of urodynamic investigations has been questioned in the management of primary stress incontinence there is a widely held view that women with recurrent symptoms require further investigation although there is no agreement regarding which tests are required. We sought to understand what testing is recommended prior to managing this difficult cohort of patients. METHOD: This research proposal was presented at the International Consultation on Incontinence Research Society (ICI-RS) in order to clarify our current knowledge regarding the assessment of urethral function and to set research priorities for the future. RESULTS: Whilst the majority of clinicians would advocate urodynamic evaluation of women with recurrent stress incontinence following previous surgery there is no consensus of opinion as to which tests should be performed, on whom or where. The available evidence to date suggests that urethral function tests do have a role with regard to prognosis following surgery and also in planning the most appropriate surgical intervention. CONCLUSION: The ICI-RS developed a list of research questions which may be able to assist in improving the investigation and management of women with recurrent SUI. Questions included whether patients felt the information gained via urethral function tests had an important role in their counseling regarding outcome of repeat SUI surgery.

Is there any association between urodynamic variables and severity of overactive bladder in women with idiopathic detrusor overactivity?

AIMS: The lack of a validated detrusor overactivity (DO) severity tool limits the clinical value of urodynamics in the management of patients with overactive bladder syndrome (OAB). The aim of this study, was to identify urodynamic variables that correlate with validated OAB severity measures. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study enrolling consecutive women with idiopathic DO. The 24 hr urgency episodes and the score of the Incontinence Impact (II) domain of the King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ) were used to assess the severity of OAB. RESULTS: The study enrolled 299 women with idiopathic DO. The cystometric capacity, compliance, and the threshold volume for the first involuntary detrusor contraction (IDC) showed a statistically significant negative correlation with the II domain of the KHQ and the 24 hr urgency episodes. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between the amplitude of first IDC and the OAB severity measures, but only borderline for the amplitude of the highest IDC. There were no statistically significant differences between women with and without leakage per urethram during a detrusor contraction. CONCLUSIONS: Cystometric capacity, compliance (measured in ml/cm H2 O), threshold volume, and amplitude of the first IDC could be routinely documented in everyday clinical practice. The measures more commonly used for describing the severity of DO, such as leakage per urethram during a detrusor contraction and amplitude of the highest detrusor contraction, have a limited role confirming the complicated interaction between the detrusor muscle, the urethral sphincter, and the pelvic floor in women. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:780-783, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Can we predict detrusor overactivity in women with lower urinary tract symptoms? The King's Detrusor Overactivity Score (KiDOS).

OBJECTIVE: Traditionally, urodynamic studies (UDS) have been used to assess lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), but their routine use is now discouraged. While urodynamic stress incontinence is strongly associated with the symptom of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and a positive cough test, there is a weak relationship between symptoms of overactive bladder and detrusor overactivity (DO). The aim of our study was to develop a model to predict DO in women with LUTS. STUDY DESIGN: This prospective study included consecutive women with LUTS attending a urodynamic clinic. All women underwent a comprehensive clinical and urodynamic assessment. The effect of each variable on the odds of DO was estimated both by univariate analysis and adjusted analysis using logistic regression. RESULTS: 1006 women with LUTS were included in the study with 374 patients (37%) diagnosed with DO. The factors considered to be the best predictors of DO were urgency urinary incontinence, urge rating/void and parity (p-value<0.01). The absence of SUI, vaginal bulging and previous continence surgery were also good predictors of DO (p-value<0.01). We have created a prediction model for DO based on our best predictors. In our scoring system, presence of UUI scores 5; mean urge rating/void≥3 scores 3; parity≥2 scores 2; previous continence surgery scores -1; presence of SUI scores -1; and the complaint of vaginal bulging scores -1. If a criterion is absent, then the score is 0 and the total score can vary from a value of -3 to +10. The Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis for the overall cut-off points revealed an area under the curve of 0.748 (95%CI 0.741, 0.755). CONCLUSION: This model is able to predict DO more accurately than a symptomatic diagnosis alone, in women with LUTS. The introduction of this scoring system as a screening tool into clinical practice may reduce the need for expensive and invasive tests to diagnose DO, but cannot replace UDS completely.

Therapies in early development for the treatment of urinary tract inflammation.

INTRODUCTION: Urinary tract inflammation is a very common clinical condition. It is caused by several pathogens and antibiotic treatment is the mainstay of therapy. Increasing antimicrobial resistance and high recurrence rates represent a challenge. Consequently, there is an unmet need for new therapeutic options. AREAS COVERED: The authors discuss the rationale of emerging management strategies and current experimentation. Furthermore, they focus on both acute and recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) and examine a range of therapeutics, including new antibiotics, vaccines, mannosides, hyaluronic acid, probiotics, immunomodulant agents and novel compounds derived from nanotechnology. EXPERT OPINION: Basic science studies have elucidated the pathogenesis of UTIs and built up the ground for the development of new therapies. Evidence is mainly derived from animal studies on murine models of bacterial cystitis. However, clinical trials are scanty and cannot provide us with robust evidence. Hetereogeneity and virulence of uropathogens pose a threat that scientists and clinicians are struggling to overcome.

Early postoperative voiding dysfunction after insertion of retropubic midurethral tape.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: A significant proportion of patients develop voiding dysfunction after midurethral tape (MUT) insertion, which reduces patient satisfaction. The study's purpose was to identify predictive factors of voiding dysfunction after a retropubic MUT procedure. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 100 patients who underwent only a retropubic MUT procedure between January 2010 and December 2011. Early voiding dysfunction was defined when patients required a Foley catheter within 48 h. Data including demographic information, urogenital symptoms, previous surgery, preoperative uroflowmetry and urodynamic parameters were analysed using SPSS v22. Univariate analysis of all demographic variables was performed; those significant at 10 % were entered into a multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Fourteen patients required Foley catheter insertion, with a median age of 58 years (26-83 years), median BMI 28 kg/m(2) (20-48 kg/m2), and median parity 2 (0-4). Univariate analysis revealed peak flow rate <15 ml/s (OR 3.79; 1.07, 13.4; p = 0.046), bladder capacity (p = 0.044), stress incontinence versus mixed or urge incontinence (p = 0.064) and previous surgery (OR 4.39; 1.34, 14.41; p = 0.015) to be associated with voiding dysfunction. Multivariate analysis showed only previous pelvic floor surgery to be independently associated (OR 3.76; 1.14, 12.23, p = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: Only previous pelvic-floor surgery was found to be a strong predictive factor of voiding dysfunction. The rate of voiding dysfunction was similar to those of published data. Previous studies revealed different predictive factors. A larger cohort is needed to provide a definite answer. Those with previous surgery appear to be those most at risk and pre-surgical counselling for these women could be suggested.

Is there a link between preoperative fluoroscopic cough stress testing and synthetic midurethral tape outcome?

OBJECTIVES: The primary aim of our study was to assess the utility of fluoroscopic cough stress testing as a predictor of synthetic midurethral tape (MUT) outcome. The secondary aim was to examine whether baseline demographics, clinical symptoms and urodynamic variables could predict MUT success. STUDY DESIGN: We carried out a retrospective study including women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) who underwent retropubic MUT in a tertiary referral urogynaecology unit. We excluded cases where concurrent pelvic organ prolapse surgery was performed. Patients were subdivided into groups based on the pre-operative fluoroscopic cough stress testing, using Blaivas and Versi classifications. Subjective outcome was evaluated at 6 weeks based on self-reported SUI in the symptom domain of the King's Health Questionnaire. Logistic regression models were used to identify predictors of treatment success. RESULTS: 143 patients were included in the study. Blaivas and Versi classifications were not useful in predicting subjective success (p=0.44 and p=0.40, respectively). Baseline demographics, clinical and other urodynamic variables failed to predict subjective outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Fluoroscopic cough stress testing is not a useful predictor of MUT outcome. No preoperative variables have been found to predict MUT success.

What is the best surgical intervention for stress urinary incontinence in the very young and very old? An International Consultation on Incontinence Research Society update.

An increasing number of continence procedures are being performed in women of all ages. An overview of the existing literature and consensus regarding surgery for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in the young and the old was presented and discussed at the International Consultation on Incontinence Research Society Think Tank. This manuscript reflects the Think Tank's summary and opinion. Despite the increasing number of continence procedures, there are relatively few data to guide management in the very young and the very old. When considering continence surgery in the young, long-term efficacy and safety are paramount, and the future effects of pregnancy and childbirth need to be carefully considered. Conversely, in the elderly, minimally invasive procedures with low morbidity are important, especially in the frail elderly who may have significant co-morbidities. Further research including prospective randomised trials, cohort studies and national registries, should help guide our management in these two challenging groups of patients.

The management of urinary tract infections in octogenarian women.

Urinary Tract Infections are common in women of all ages and the incidence increases with age. Whilst they are a common cause of lower urinary tract symptoms in all women they may be associated with increased morbidity in the elderly. Appropriate investigation and treatment in primary and secondary care are essential to effectively manage urinary tract infection and decrease morbidity and hospitalisation rates. Loss of endogenous oestrogen at the time of the menopause is associated with the urogenital atrophy and an increased incidence of urinary tract infection. Consequently vaginal oestrogen therapy may offer a rationale for treatment and prevent of urinary tract infection. The aim of this paper is to review the clinical management of elderly women presenting with primary and recurrent urinary tract infection.

Management of recurrent stress urinary incontinence after failed midurethral sling: a survey of members of the International Urogynecological Association (IUGA).

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Synthetic midurethral slings (MUS) have gained popularity in the management of stress urinary incontinence (SUI), due to their efficacy and minimally invasive nature. As there are no robust data to guide management of persistent or recurrent SUI after failed MUS, the aim of this study was to evaluate the management of these cases among IUGA members. METHODS: A pretested, web-based survey designed to explore assessment, surgical management and views about future research was sent to IUGA members. RESULTS: A total of 385 participants opened the survey and 331 eligible responses were obtained. Conventional laboratory urodynamics were the most commonly used investigation (72.6 %). The type of previous surgery, urodynamic findings and surgeon's preference/experience were considered to be the most important factors in choosing the type of surgical management. Retropubic sling (RPS) was the preferred surgical option in most of the clinical scenarios with urethral bulking agents (UBA) being more popular in the absence of urethral hypermobility after a failed RPS. While the vast majority of the respondents (93.0 %) recognized the urgent need for good quality research, they were less willing to participate in randomized controlled trials (RCT) comparing redo MUS with autologous fascial sling or colposuspension. CONCLUSIONS: Members of IUGA prefer RPS in most patients and UBA in patients with absent urethral hypermobility and intrinsic sphincter deficiency. There is a recognized need for good quality research, but IUGA members are reluctant to participate in RCTs comparing minimally invasive to conventional surgical techniques.

Role of urodynamics before prolapse surgery.

The role of urodynamic studies (UDS) before prolapse surgery is contentious and a hotly debated topic in urogynaecology. Previous studies in women with prolapse and women with uncomplicated stress urinary incontinence (SUI) have focused on women without preoperative incontinence. Currently, it has not been possible to reach a universal consensus on the role of UDS before prolapse surgery in women with concomitant symptomatic or occult SUI. It is clear that UDS could add some information in women undergoing pelvic organ prolapse surgery and could facilitate counselling of patients. However, there is no evidence that the outcome of surgery is altered by prior UDS. New well-designed randomized studies are necessary to improve our understanding of this topic.

Prevention and management of pelvic organ prolapse.

Pelvic organ prolapse is a highly prevalent condition in the female population, which impairs the health-related quality of life of affected individuals. Despite the lack of robust evidence, selective modification of obstetric events or other risk factors could play a central role in the prevention of prolapse. While the value of pelvic floor muscle training as a preventive treatment remains uncertain, it has an essential role in the conservative management of prolapse. Surgical trends are currently changing due to the controversial issues surrounding the use of mesh and the increasing demand for uterine preservation. The evolution of laparoscopic and robotic surgery has increased the use of these techniques in pelvic floor surgery.

Combined vaginal and vesicoscopic collaborative repair of complex vesicovaginal fistulae.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to describe and demonstrate the feasibility of a minimally invasive surgical technique for the repair of complex vesicovaginal fistulae that may not be amenable to vaginal repair. TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS: Nine cases of vesicovaginal fistulae, which were repaired laparoscopically at King's College Hospital, London and Ygia Polyclinic Private Hospital, Limassol between 2011 and 2013, were identified. The repair was carried out by direct placement of the ports into the urinary bladder (vesicoscopy). Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data were collected from a prospective database. All 9 operations were completed without any conversion to open surgery. Four ureteric reimplantations were necessary for ureteric involvement. There were no intraoperative complications but some intraoperative technical difficulties. No early postoperative complications were documented, and the hospital stay varied from 2 to 8 days. The fistula repair success rate was 89% at a median follow-up of 30 months. CONCLUSION: This surgical technique is feasible and offers an alternative approach to the classical open or laparoscopic transperitoneal approach. It supplements the vaginal approach for fistulae that are not suitable for pure vaginal approach, allowing close collaboration between the laparoscopic urologist and the vaginal surgeon.

Do patients with symptoms and signs of lower urinary tract dysfunction need a urodynamic diagnosis? ICI-RS 2013.

AIMS: The ICI-RS Think Tank discussed the diagnostic process for patients who present with symptoms and signs of lower urinary tract (LUT) dysfunction. This manuscript reflects the Think Tank's summary and opinion. METHODS: An overview of the existing evidence and consensus regarding urodynamic testing was presented and discussed in relation to contemporary treatment strategies. RESULTS: Evidence of the validity of the diagnostic process in relation to the contemporary management paradigm is incomplete, scattered, and sometimes conflicting and therefore a process redesign may be necessary. The Think Tanks' suggestion, contained in this manuscript, is that the symptoms and signs that the patients present can be more precisely delineated as syndromes. The overactive bladder syndrome (OAB-S); the stress urinary incontinence syndrome (SUI-S); the urinary incontinence syndrome (UI-S); the voiding dysfunction syndrome (VD-S); and or the neurogenic LUT dysfunction syndrome (NLUTD-S) may become evidence based starting point for initial management. Consistent addition of the word syndrome, if adequately defined, acknowledges the uncertainty, but will improve outcome and will improve selection of patients that need further (invasive) diagnosis before management. CONCLUSIONS: The ICS-RS Think Tank has summarized the level of evidence for UDS and discussed the evidence in association with the currently changing management paradigm. The ICI-RS Think Tank recommends that the diagnostic process for patients with LUTD can be redesigned. Carefully delineated and evidence based LUTD syndromes may better indicate, personalize and improve the outcome of initial management, and may also contribute to improved and rational selection of patients for invasive UDS. Neurourol. Urodynam. 33:581-586, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Radiation exposure during videourodynamics in women.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Our aim was to calculate the total radiation exposure and the dose absorbed by specific organs during videourodynamics (VUDS) in women. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of consecutive women attending for VUDS in a tertiary referral urodynamics unit. Tests with missing data and those that were terminated during the filling phase of the cystometry were excluded from the study. The VUDS examination was tailored according to the indication for the test and the urodynamic question to be answered. The PCXMC simulation program (version 2.0) was utilised to calculate the effective dose and the dose absorbed by individual organs. RESULTS: Out of 345 consecutive VUDS, 264 were included in the study. The mean effective dose was 0.34 mSv (SD: 0.15) and the mean fluoroscopic time was 63.15 s (SD: 21.81). Multivariate linear regression analysis of factors affecting the radiation dose showed that BMI (p = 0.009) and fluoroscopy time (p < 0.001) were the only statistically significant factors. The final linear regression model for the estimation of the effective dose was Eff. Dose (mSv) = -0.049 + 0.003 · BMI (kg/m(2)) + 0.005 · fluoroscopy time (s). CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals that women are exposed to relatively small amounts of radiation during VUDS. The use of fluoroscopy only without additional static radiographic images minimises exposure to a level consistent with the "as low as reasonably achievable" radiological principle.