There is no consensus in the present literature on the type of suture material to be used for Burch colposuspension. The authors reviewed the available literature and studied the cure rates of the various studies. Seventeen studies which specified the suture material could be analysed. The mean cure rate in those that used permanent sutures was equal (87%) to the studies which used absorbable sutures. It was concluded that both types of suture material have equal success rates and that, on the basis of the present review, no specific advice on the type of sutures can be given.