AUGS research agenda

AUGS recognizes the importance of understanding and evaluating the conditions that women face throughout their lives, including conditions that become more prevalent in the post-reproductive years. The urogynecology community also recognizes that women’s health research is woefully underfunded, and that most of the limited funding goes to research involving reproductive-aged women. AUGS believes women’s health care should encompass the full life span of women, including conditions affecting post-reproductive and geriatric women, the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population.

To acknowledge the need for increased research funding directed towards women’s health, beyond maternity and reproductive care, AUGS has established the National Urogynecology Research Agenda. Bringing together more than 60 subject matter experts with diverse expertise and research interests, and under the direction of the AUGS Board and Scientific Committee, the Research Agenda writing group identified knowledge gaps and research priorities across six topic areas:

1. Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms/Urinary Incontinence
2. Pelvic Organ Prolapse
3. Fecal Incontinence
4. Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections
5. Sexual Health in Women with Pelvic Floor Disorders
6. Bladder Pain Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis and Myofascial Pelvic Pain

The writing group also identified important cross-cutting themes related to health disparities, multidisciplinary research, and training future scientists.

We are deeply appreciative of the volunteer hours committed to this project and are thrilled to publish this National Urogynecology Research Agenda.