Disagreement in Female Urethral Nomenclature: A Survey Study of Genitourinary Surgeons

Introduction: Inconsistencies exist in the nomenclature pertaining to the terms dorsal and ventral female urethra. This survey study was devised to demonstrate this inconsistency, and to identify any surgeon characteristics that contribute to this confusion in urologic and gynecologic reconstructive surgeons. Methods: Genitourinary surgeons were anonymously surveyed using email and social media platforms and asked how they would anatomically label 2 distinctly indicated regions of the female urethra using "dorsal"and "ventral"nomenclature. χ² statistical analyses were used to compare categorical responses. Results: We received a total of 155 responses: 128 urologists, 26 gynecologists, and 1 medical student. The medical student was excluded from the analysis. Responses to the red/dorsal marker were 48% dorsal, 27% ventral, and 25% free response. Responses to the green/ventral marker were 52% ventral, 26% dorsal, and 22% free response. Urologists were more likely than gynecologists to use the correct "dorsal"label (χ² [1, N = 122] = 33.6, P <.00001) and "ventral"label (χ² [1, N = 124] = 32.3, P <.00001). There was no statistically significant difference between attendings vs trainees responding either "dorsal"or "ventral"to describe the red marker (χ² [1, N = 124] = 0.24, P <.63) or the green marker (χ² [1, N = 122] = 0.21, P <.65). Conclusions: The terms dorsal and ventral female urethra are not consistent between urologist and gynecologist reconstructive surgeons, and efforts to standardize terminology should be made at the residency training level.