The pelvis fulfils more extensive functions in the female body than in the male. In the female, it forms not merely the bony foundation of the trunk to which strong and numerous muscles are attached, but also shelters the largest part of the sexual apparatus in addition to the distal end of the intestinal canal and urinary passages and thereby assumes great importance in reproduction. Nature has placed the canal that opens at the lowermost part of the trunk in such a position that the pelvis can maintain the burden of the abdominal viscera and provide support and purchase for the enclosed organs." Carl Litzmann in his book "Die Foramen des Beckens" [The Foramen of the Pelvis], published in 1861.The study of female, as opposed to male, pelvic floor disorders is unique because it encompasses not only inappropriate urinary and fecal control, defective pelvic organ support, and sexual dysfunction but also prevention of long-term complications, namely, renal insufficiency, and hence, screening, detection, and management of impaired renal function. Pelvic floor disorders in women must thus be approached from a holistic physio-anatomical perspective that is not limited to the pelvic floor or lower urinary and intestinal tracts but with their adverse impact on the function of the upper urinary tract carefully considered.Female pelvic floor disorders may all interfere with renal function by back pressure, ascending infection or vesicoureteric reflux [1]. Renal damage can easily occur in these women without specific clinical signs and thus remain undetected [2]. The significance of renal insufficiency in women with pelvic floor disorders, however, has been relatively overlooked in recent literature being confined to only a few case reports. In the largest retrospective series, asymptomatic hydronephrosis diagnosed by preoperative renal ultrasound and/or intravenous pyelogram was not uncommon in patients with pelvic organ prolapse (7.7%). More importantly, 8% of these patients had evidence of renal insufficiency and the prevalence rose with increasing severity of prolapse particularly with uterine prolapse [3]. As not all women with pelvic floor disorders will undergo operative intervention and consequently preoperative evaluation, the prevalence of hydronephrosis is likely to be underestimated. There is also evidence that in reproductiveage women, primary or recurrent urinary incontinence independently increases the risk for acute pyelonephritis [4]. Acute pyelonephritis is a serious complication and if treated improperly or inadequately may result in renal parenchymal scarring and permanent renal damage. Data on the prevalence of post-pyelonephritic renal scarring in adults are lacking mainly because of lack of long-term radiological follow-up, but this lesion was identified by imaging in up to 13.6-100% of children [5]. Although the clinical significance of renal scarring and its detrimental effect on overall renal function is contentious, there is clear evidence from transplantation research that once a substantial port...