Aligning terminology and assessment in Male Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: a comparison of Guideline perspectives

Abstract

The International Continence Society (ICS) report on the terminology for adult male lower urinary tract and pelvic floor symptoms and dysfunction provides the terminology to categorise patients based on their symptoms, signs, and study findings. It is designed to standardise communication among health care professionals involved in the care of men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). The 2026 European Association of Urology Guidelines on Non-neurogenic Male Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and the 2026 American Urological Association Guideline on the Management of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Attributed to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia are key references in the diagnosis and treatment of male patients with LUTS. The purpose of this paper is to examine how these prominent guidelines align with ICS terminology, which is considered the gold standard for the communication of male LUTS.