Uroflow in women: an overview and suggestions for the future.

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.