Editorial comment: Evaluation of different transvaginal slings

With the present plethora of publications on the surgical management of SUI in women, this prospective randomised study compares the results of three different types of mid-urethral sling. There is no doubt that SUI in women represents a substantial medical, social and economic burden . A wide variety of surgical techniques, materials and routes has been described to achieve better success rates and to minimize the potential complications. Changing the reference standard of the surgical techniques used for treating SUI with time might reflect the logical way of science development, but it might also indicate the deficiency in understanding the actual pathogenesis of such disease. Do we treat the same disease in every patient? Or are there phenotypic issues and should treatment be individualized? The decrease in success rates over the long-term follow-up of any procedure for this condition might indicate the latter concept.