Urologic and kidney problems are common in women across their life span and affect their daily life, including physical activity, sexual relations, social life, and future health. Urological health in women is still understudied and the underlying mechanisms of female urological dysfunctions are not fully understood. The Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR®) recognized the need to have a roundtable discussion where researchers and clinicians would define the current state of knowledge, gaps, and recommendations for future research directions to transform women's urological health. This report summarizes the discussions, which focused on epidemiology, clinical presentation, basic science, prevention strategies, and efficacy of current therapies. Experts around the table agreed on a set of research, education, and policy recommendations that have the potential to dramatically increase awareness and improve women's urological health at all stages of life.
We would like to add urological health as a priority to the woman well visit described by Alisa Pascale and her colleagues (Pascale, Beal, & Fitzgerald, 2016), which was your most recent Editor's Choice. Women are disproportionately affected by urological conditions compared with men. Epidemiological data shows that over 35% of adult women in the United States struggle with urinary incontinence versus less than 7% of men, and women have a greater than 50% lifetime risk of urinary tract infections (Carls
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