Abstract
The literature on uroflowmetry in women is presented and evaluated. Uroflowmeters are described and found generally sufficiently accurate, although the errors arising from electronic evaluation may invalidate the test. Six flow curve patterns are proposed in accordance with described pathological conditions. From the literature it is summarized that the normal Qmax is 20–36 ml/s. Qmax is linearly correlated to the voided volume, increasing by 5.6 ml/s/100 ml. Pregnancy, age and menstrual cycle do not influence Qmax. Several pathological conditions have been associated with specific flow curve patterns. These conditions are described and associations with the proposed flow definitions made.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Colstrup H. ‘Closure mechanism of the female urethra’.Neurourol Urodyn 1987;6:271–298
Lapides J. Physiology of the urinary sphincter and its relationship to operations for stress incontinence. In: Slater WG, ed. Disorders of the female urethra and urinary incontinence. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1978:21–42
Abrams PH, Torrens M. Urine flow studies.Urol Clin North Am 1979;6:71–79
Christmas TJ, Chapple CR, Rickards D et al. Contemporary flowmeters: an assessment of their accuracy and reliability.Br J Urol 1989;63:460–461
Nielsen JB, Nørgaard JP, Sørensen SS et al. Continuous overnight monitoring of bladder activity in vesico-ureteral reflux patients: II. bladder activity types.Neurourol Urodyn 1984;3:7–21
Rowan D, James ED, Kramer AEJL et al. Urodynamic equipment: technical aspects.J Med Eng Technol 1987;11:57–64
Rollema HJ. Ultrasonic volumetry, a new principle for uroflowmetry: comparison with the DISA mictiometer.Urol Int 1978;33:88–100
Grino PB, Bruskewitz R, Blaivas JG, Siroky MB, Andersen JT, Cook T, Stoner E. Maximum urinary flow rate by uroflowmetry: automatic or visual interpretation.J Urol 1993;149:339–341
Jørgesnen JB, Mortensen T, Hummelmose M, Sjørslev J. Mechanical versus visual evaluation of urinary flow curves and patterns.Urol Int 1993;51:15–18
Abrams PH, Blaivas JG, Stanton SL, Andersen JT. The standardization of terminology of lower urinary tract function.Scand J Urol Nephrol 1988;(suppl)114:5–19
Klarskov P. Analysis of the method of measuring the urinary flow by means of the Glostrup Flowmeteret.Ugeskr Laeg 1974;136:2679–2684
Tripathi VN, Sridhar M. Urodiagrams. A new method of uroflow pattern analysis.J Urol 1983;130:309–311
Shoukry I, Susset JG, Elhilali MM, Dutartre D. Role of uroflowmetry in the assessment of lower urinary tract obstruction in adult males.Br J Urol 1975;47:599–606
Jørgensen JB, Jensen KM-E, Klarskov P et al. Intra- and interobserver variations in classification of urinary flow curve patterns.Neurourol Urodyn 1990;9:535–539
Tanagho EA, Stoller ML. Urodynamics: uroflowmetry and female voiding patterns. In: Ostergard DR, Bent AE, eds. Urogynecology and urodynamics. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1991:164–170
Massey A, Abrams P. Urodynamics of the female lower urinary tract.Urol Clin North Am 1985;12:231–246
Susset JG, Shoukry I, Schlaeder G, Cloutier D, Dutartere D. Stress incontinence and urethral obstruction in women: value of uroflowmetry and voiding urethrography.J Urol 1974;111:504–513
Frimodt-Møller C, Hald T. Clinical urodynamics. Methods and results.Scand J Urol Nephrol 1972;(suppl 6)15:143–155
Klarskov P. Urological diagnosis by investigation of the urinary flow with the Glostrup Flowmeter.Ugeskr Laeg 1974;136:2684–2686
Gleason DM, Bottaccini MR, Reilly RJ, Byrne JC. Urethral compliance and its role in female voiding dysfunction.Invest Urol 1973;11:83–91
Dutartre D, Susset JG. Reproducibilité des courbes débitmétrie urinaire.J Urol (Paris) 1974;80:484–494
Susset JG. In: Hinman F Jr, ed. Behign prostatic hypertrophy: Development of nomograms for application of uroflow. New York: Springer Verlag, 1983:529–538
Heintz A, Hallwachs O. Uroflowmetrie: der Einfluss der Tageszeit auf die Harnstrahlmessung.Urologe B 1982;22:141–142
Jensen KM-E, Jørgensen JB, Mogensen P. Reproducibility of uroflowmetry variables in elderly males.Urol Res 1985;13:237–239
Sørensen S. Urodynamic investigations and their reproducibilty in healthy postmenopausal females.Scand J Urol Nephrol 1988;(Suppl)114:35–47
Poulsen EU, Kirkeby HJ. Home monitoring of uroflow in normal male adolescents. Relation between flow-curve voided volume and time of day.Scand J Urol Nephrol 1988;(Suppl)114:58–62
Gleason DM, Bottaccini MR, Perling D, Lattimer JK. A challenge to current urodynamic thought.J Urol 1967;97:935–940
Fantl JA, Smith PJ, Schneider V, Hurt WG, Dunn LJ. Fluid weight uroflowmetry in women.Am J Obstet Gynecol 1983;145:1017–1024
Bottacini MR, Gleason DM. Urodynamic norms in women. 1. Normals versus stress incontinents.J Urol 1980;124:659–662
Drach GW, Ignatoff J, Layton T. Peak urinary flow rate: observations in female subjects and comparison to male subjects.J Urol 1979;122:215–219
Frimodt-Møller C. A urodynamic study of micturition in healthy men and women.Dan Med Bull 1974;21:41–48
Gleason DM, Bottaccini MR. Urodynamic norms in female voiding. II. The flow modulating zone and voiding dysfunction.J Urol 1982;127:495–500
Scott R JR, Mcilhaney JS. Voiding rates in normal adults.J Urol 1961;85:980–983
Backmann K-A. Urinary flow during micturition in normal women.Acta Chir Scand 1965;130:357–370
Gammelgård J. ‘Vandladningsmønstre hos normale voksne.’Ugeskr Laeg 1974;136:2675–2678
Peter WP, Drake WM, Camden NJ. Uroflowmetric observations in gynecologic patients.JAMA 1958;166:721–724
Sørensen S, Knudsen UB, Kirkeby HJ, Djurhuus JC. Urodynamic investigations in healthy fertile females during the menstrual cycle.Scand J Urol Nephrol 1988;(Suppl)114:28–34
Friis E, Hjortrup A, Nielsen JER, Sanders S, Walter S. Urinary incontinence and genital prolapse: a prospective study of the value of urodynamic evaluation.J Urol 1982;128:764–765
Haylen BT, Parys BT, Anyaegbunam WI, Ashby D, West CR. Urine flow rates in male and female urodynamic patients compared with Liverpool Nomograms.Br J Urol 1990;65:483–487
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jørgensen, J.B., Colstrup, H. & Frimodt-Møller, C. Uroflow in women: An overview and suggestions for the future. Int Urogynecol J 9, 33–36 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01900539
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01900539