The Standardisation Steering Committee (SSC) establishes terminology and methodology in the International Continence Society’s areas of activity, to underpin professional standards of clinical management and research.
Promoting Excellence
The value of the SSC is in promoting best standards when clinicians and allied professionals communicate with patients and colleagues, undertake diagnostic tests, proceed to therapeutic interventions and undertake research. Precise use of agreed terminology ensures clear understanding for collaborating centres and readers of publications. Adherence to the diagnostic testing standards gives patients and clinical colleagues confidence that conclusions on which important therapeutic decisions are based are reliable. Development of future insights into mechanisms and treatments of the disease areas relevant to the ICS is enhanced where research studies employ internationally-standardised approaches.
The ongoing principles are that the:
(i) Documents be of the highest quality, contemporary, interesting and a valuable contribution to the academic wealth of the ICS and any other societies collaboration from time to time
(ii) Definitions be accurate, concise and, unless there is good cause, consistent.
ICS Terminology Glossary
Core Terminology reports are now integrated within the new ICS heirarchical terminology database giving instant access to all ICS terms and definitions: Explore the Terminology Glossary Database
Should you have any comments on the reports, please email standardisation@ics.org
Current ICS Reports
- An International Urogynecological Association (IUGA)/ International Continence Society (ICS) Joint Report on conservative and nonpharmacological management of female pelvic floor dysfunction, 2016
- A standard for terminology in chronic pelvic pain syndromes: A report from the chronic pelvic pain working group of the international continence society, 2016
- International Urogynecological Association (IUGA)/ International Continence Society (ICS) Joint Report on the Terminology for Female Anorectal Dysfunction, 2016
- International Continence Society Good Urodynamic Practices and Terms 2016: Urodynamics, Uroflowmetry, Cystometry and Pressure-Flow Study, 2016
- An International Urogynecological Association (IUGA) / International Continence Society (ICS) Joint Report on the Terminology for Female Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP), 2016
- Lower Urinary Tract Function in Children and Adolescents, Austin, 2015
- Urodynamic Equipment Performance (Guideline), Gammie, 2014
- Developing Evidence-Based Standards, Rosier, 2012
- Complications related to native tissue female pelvic floor surgery (Terminology and Clasification), Haylen, 2012
- Reporting Outcomes of Surgical Procedures for Pelvic Organ Prolapse, Toozs-Hobson, 2012
- Complications related directly to the insertion of protheses in female pelvic surgery (Terminology and Classification), Haylen, 2011
- Female Pelvic Floor Dysfunction (Terminology), Haylen, 2010
- Pelvic Floor Muscle Function and Dysfunction (Terminology), Messelink, 2005
- Digital Exchange of Urodynamic Study Data (Standarization), Mastright, 2004
- Urethral Pressure Measurement (Standardisation), Lose, 2002
- Nocturia (Terminology), Van Kerrebroeck, 2002
- Good Urodynamic Practices, Schafer, 2002
- Lower Urinary Tract Function (Terminology), Abrams, 2002
- Bladder ultrasonography (Standardization), Carter, 2001
- Ambulatory Urodynamic Monitoring (Terminology), van Doorn, 2000
- Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction (Terminology), Stohrer, 1999
- Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction in Frail and Older People (Outcomes Measures for Research), Fonda 1998
- Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction in Children (Standardisation and Definitions), Norgaard, 1998
- Outcome Studies in Patients with Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction, Mattiasson, 1998
- Lower Urinary Tract Function (Standardisation of Terminology), Griffiths, 1997
- Functional Characteristics of Intestinal Reservoirs (Terminology), Thuroff, 1996
- Lower Urinary Tract Rehabilitation Techniques: Seventh Report on the Standardization of Terminology of Lower Urinary Tract Function, Amdersen 1992
ICS Terminology Wiki
Awareness of continence terms and your place for comments.
ICS Wiki is a resource for all people interested in urinary tract and bowel function and dysfunction. It draws together terminology and other resources, giving current agreed definitions. It also provides a perspective and enables all stakeholders to provide comment and participate in debate: Access the ICS Wiki
Active ICS Working Groups
The following ICS working groups are currently active:
- IUGA - ICS Joint Working Group on Conservative Management
- The Standardisation of Terminology of Adult Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction. Report of the Working Group of the International Continence Society
- IUGA -ICS Sexual Health
- Terminology of Lower Urinary Tract Function - Review
- Basic Science
- ICS-ICCS Nocturia and Nocturnal enuresis
- Detrusor underactivity/Underactive Bladder
- Standardisation of Terminology for Incontinence Products; working group of the International Continence Society (ICS).
- ICS-IUGA joint terminology document on reporting urodynamics in women
- ICS terminology document on reporting urodynamics in men
- Male Lower Urinary Tract and Pelvic floor Dysfunction and Dysfunction
- Pelvic Floor Muscle Function and Dysfunction
Working Groups Starting soon:
- Male anorectal dysfunction
- ICS Report on the Terminology for Conservative Management of Male Lower Urinary Tract and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
- ICS-IUGA Joint Report on the Terminology for Female Pelvic Floor Fistulae
- ICS-IUGA Joint Report on the Terminology for Female Laparoscopic Pelvic Anatomy
- ICS- IUGA Joint Report on the Terminology for Female Obstetric Trauma
- ICS Report on the Terminology for Sexual Health in Men with Lower Urinary Tract and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction.
SSC Functions
- Working to develop and support a programme of development of professional Standardisation documents relating to terminology, diagnostics, clinical management and research in the areas of activity of the ICS
- Undertaking timely revision of Standardisation documents to ensure they retain contemporaneous relevance, assimilating feedback from all stakeholders
- Promoting adherence to Standardisation document recommendations in professional practice of all clinicians and allied professionals working in ICS areas of activity
- Providing regular information on SSC activity to the ICS membership
- Supporting infrastructure for reciprocal and responsive dialogue between the SSC and the ICS membership
- Developing and maintaining a high-quality SSC microsite on the ICSOffice.org website
- Providing advice to the ICS Trustees in relation to policy issues that relate to the SSC activities
- Developing effective working relationships with other ICS Committees and allied organisations outside the ICS
See the SSC’s terms of reference
Methodology of ICS Report Development
For the ever-changing context of modern-day medicine, the revision and initiation of reports is the responsibility of specially-convened Working Groups.
If you wish to propose development of a future report or wish to express your interest in joining a working group, please email Jenny at the ICS Office who will forward it to the Chairperson of the SSC.
For more information see this detailed review of the standardisation report process
External Resources
The following external sites may be of interest. The ICS is not responsible for the content of external sites.