Clinical Guidance Documents

The American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS) has developed the following clinical documents to promote the highest quality patient care in urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery. The development of these documents is coordinated by the AUGS Publications Committee.

Best Practice and Consensus Statements

Clinical Consensus Statements (CCSs) are statements based on expert opinion and the best available evidence for which consensus is sought using an explicit methodology to identify areas of agreement. Clinical Consensus Statements are now developed in place of Best Practice Statements.

Number 13Consensus Statement: Postoperative Urinary RetentionApril 2023
Number 12Consensus Statement: Consensus Definitions and Interpretation Templates for Dynamic Ultrasound Imaging of Defecatory Pelvic Floor Disorders(AUGS-ASCRS-SAR-ICS-IUGA-SGS)January 2023
Number 11Consensus Statement: Vaginal Pessary Use and Management for Pelvic Organ Prolapse (AUGS-SUNA Joint Publication)
Publications Committee Interview
January 2023
Number 10AUGS Update: Clinical Consensus Statement: Vaginal Energy-Based Devices
Patient Summary: Vaginal Energy-Based Devices
October 2022January 2022
Number 9Consensus Statement: Enhanced Recovery After Urogynecologic Surgery(AUGS-IUGA Joint Publication)September 2022
Number 8Consensus Statement: Consensus Definitions and Interpretation Templates for Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Defecatory Pelvic Floor Disorders(ASCRS-SAR-ICS-AUGS-IUGA-SGS Joint Publication)October 2021
Number 7AUGS Update: Consensus Statement: Association of Anticholinergic Medication Use and Cognition in Women With Overactive BladderFebruary 2021
Number 6Consensus Statement: Consensus Definitions and Interpretation Templates for Fluoroscopic Imaging of Defecatory Pelvic Floor Disorders(ASCRS-SAR-ICS-AUGS-IUGA-SGS Joint Publication)January 2021
Number 5Consensus Statement: Measuring Pelvic Floor Disorder Symptoms Using Patient-Reported Instruments (AUGS-ASCRS-ICS-SUFU Joint Publication)January 2020Reaffirmed 2024
Number 4Best Practice Statement: Evaluation of Obstructed DefecationNovember 2018Reaffirmed 2022
Number 3Consensus Statement: Cystoscopy at the Time of Prolapse RepairJanuary 2018Reaffirmed 2021
Number 2Best Practice Statement: Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection in Adult WomenJanuary 2018Reaffirmed 2021
Number 1Best Practice Statement: Evaluation and Counseling of Patients With Pelvic Organ ProlapseSeptember 2017Reaffirmed 2020

Clinical Guidance

Number 3Recommendations of the SUFU/AUGS/ICS Female Stress Urinary Incontinence Surgical Publication Working Group: A Common Standard Minimum Data Set for the LiteratureJuly 2024 
Number 2Assessment of the Pelvic Floor and Associated Musculoskeletal System: Guide for Medical Practitioners Publications Committee InterviewDecember 2021
Number 1Pregnancy in Women With Prior Treatments for Pelvic Floor DisordersMay 2020

Clinical Practice Statements

Clinical Practice Statements (CPS) are quality-driven, evidence-based guidelines intended to optimize patient care, which are supported by high-level evidence documents. These documents summarize current information on techniques and clinical management issues for the practice of urogynecology. They should place quality improvement at the forefront, using current best evidence to prioritize recommendations. 

Number 3The Role of Uterine Preservation at the Time of Pelvic Organ ProlapseApril 2025
Number 2Urethral Bulking
Publications Committee Interview
August 2024
Number 1Postoperative Opioid Prescribing After Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery
Publications Committee Interview
November 2021

Committee Opinions and Practice Bulletins

The following committee opinions and practice bulletins have been developed jointly with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). These are assessments of emerging issues in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery and are reviewed regularly for accuracy. 

Number 5Asymptomatic Microscopic Hematuria in WomenCommittee Opinion, April 2017Reaffirmed 2024
Number 4Management of Mesh Complications in Gynecologic SurgeryCommittee Opinion, April 2017Reaffirmed 2021
Number 3Pelvic Organ ProlapsePractice Bulletin, November 2019Reaffirmed 2024
Number 2Urinary Incontinence in WomenPractice Bulletin, November 2015Reaffirmed 2022
Number 1Evaluation of Uncomplicated Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women Before Surgical TreatmentCommittee Opinion, June 2014Reaffirmed 2024

E-book

Number 1Pelvic Floor: Foundational Science and Mechanistic Insights for a Shared Disease Model
(AUGS-IUGA Joint Publication)
Publications Committee Interview
June 2022

Editorial

Number 1In Pursuit of Patient-Centered Innovation: The Role of Professional Organizations (AUGS-IUGA Joint Editorial)February 2020

FPMRS Recommendations via the Choosing Wisely Campaign

FPMRS recommendations via the Choosing Wisely® Campaign, an initiative of the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation (ABIM).

Position Statements

Position Statements are documents on scientific or medical issues relating to urogynecology. These statements provide AUGS’ official position on health policy topics and should include a detailed description and supported by evidence. 

Number 6Restriction of Surgical Options for Pelvic Floor DisordersMay 2024
Number 5Information and Guidance on the Adoption of Surgical Innovation and Technology in Urogynecology
Publications Committee Interview
March 2023
Number 4Joint Position Statement on the Management of Mesh-Related Complications for the FPMRS Specialist (AUGS-IUGA Joint Publication)
Patient Summary: Management of Mesh-Related Complications​
April 2020January 2022
Number 3Statement on Gender AffirmationNovember 2022
Number 2Joint Position Statement on Midurethral Slings for Stress Urinary Incontinence
FAQ document by Providers on Mesh Midurethral Slings for Stress Urinary Incontinence
FAQ document by Patients on Mesh Midurethral Slings for Stress Urinary Incontinence
Midurethral Sling Supplemental Information Checklist
December 2021Reaffirmed 2024December 2021December 2021March 2021
Number 1WITHDRAWN Restriction of Surgical Options for Pelvic Floor DisordersMarch 2013 

Privileging Guidelines

Number 1Guidelines for Privileging and Credentialing Physicians for Sacrocolpopexy for Pelvic Organ ProlapseMarch 2013Reaffirmed 2021

Research Reports and Conference Reports

AUGS Research Reports are developed by an AUGS Committee, Special Interest Group, Network, or Registry group. These reports are written presentations of the group’s findings. Conference Reports are summary reports/findings of presentations delivered at an AUGS meeting/conference.

Number 14Outcomes at 12, 24, and 36 Months in Women Treated for Pelvic Organ Prolapse With Pessary or Surgery: Results From the Multicenter Pelvic Floor Disorders RegistryFebruary 2025
Number 13National Urogynecology Research Agenda: A Path Forward for Advancing the Treatment and Management of Pelvic Floor Disorders
Publications Committee Interview
November 2023
Number 12Research Report: Twelve Month Outcomes of Pelvic Organ Prolapse Surgery in Patients With Uterovaginal or Posthysterectomy Vaginal Prolapse Enrolled in the Multicenter Pelvic Floor Disorders RegistryOctober 2023
Number 11Research Report: Performance of Perioperative Tasks for Women Undergoing Anti-incontinence SurgeryAugust 2023
Number 10Research Report: Medium-Term Outcomes of Conservative and Surgical Treatment for Stress Urinary Incontinence
Publications Committee Interview
June 2023
Number 9State of the Science Conference Report:Evidence-Informed, Interdisciplinary, Multidimensional Action Plan to Advance Overactive Bladder Research and Treatment Initiatives: Directives From State-of-the-Science Conference on Overactive Bladder and Cognitive ImpairmentJanuary 2023
Number 8State of the Science Conference Report: Overactive Bladder and Cognitive ImpairmentJanuary 2023
Number 7Research Report: Outcomes of Pessary Use at 1 Year in Women Treated from Pelvic Organ Prolapse in a Multicenter RegistryDecember 2022
Number 6Conference Report: The American Urogynecologic Society Action Plan on Diversity, Equity, and InclusionMarch 2022
Number 5Research Report: Generic Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients Seeking Care for Pelvic Organ ProlapseJune 2021
Number 4Research Report: Baseline Characteristics, Evaluation, and Management of Women With Complaints of Recurrent Urinary Tract InfectionsMay 2021
Number 3Research Report: Developing an Advanced Alternative Payment Model for Stress Urinary Incontinence 
Publications Committee Interview​
April 2021  
Number 2Research Report: A Blueprint for Creating Mentored, Collaborative Networks for Early-Career Physician-Scientists January 2021
Number 1Conference Report: Deciding our Future: Consensus Conference Summary ReportMarch 2020

Systematic Reviews

Systematic Reviews identify, appraise, and synthesize all relevant studies on a particular topic. The methodological quality of the studies included are assessed on the basis of explicit criteria, such as whether they are randomized trials, the presence of a pre-test or a control group. 

Number 2Microscopic Hematuria as a Screening Tool for Urologic Malignancies in WomenJanuary 2021
Number 1The Impact of Weight Loss Intervention on Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Urinary Incontinence in Overweight and Obese WomenJanuary 2020Reaffirmed 2024 

Terminology Reports

Terminology Reports address the approved standards for reporting data/information to ensure consistency in terminology. These reports should highlight the issues created by poor terminology, propose a clearer set of definitions related to set end points; and provide greater clarity in reporting, interpretation, application, and implications for researchers and practitioners.

Number 4Joint Terminology Standardization for Female Bladder Pain Syndrome (AUGS-IUGA Joint Publication)January 2025
Number 3Terminology Report: Joint Report on Terminology for Cosmetic Gynecology (AUGS-IUGA Joint Publication)
Publications Committee Interview
June 2022Reaffirmed 2024 
Number 2Joint Report on Terminology for Surgical Procedures to Treat Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women (AUGS-IUGA Joint Publication) March 2020Reaffirmed 2024
Number 1Joint Report on Terminology for Surgical Procedures to Treat Pelvic Organ Prolapse (AUGS-IUGA Joint Publication) (March 2020)ErratumMarch 2020

Legal Disclaimer: The information above is intended to provide patients and physicians with general information, and is not intended to substitute for the treating physician’s clinical judgment. The treating physician should make all treatment decisions based upon his or her independent judgment and the patient’s individual clinical presentation.