With increasing aging in China, urinary continence diseases have received increasing attention. A majority of patients are female; however, few studies have examined urinary continence researchers’ sex differences and regional distribution in China or Asia generally.

Using data from the 21st National Urology Urinary Continence Conference of the Chinese Urology Association, the regional distribution and sex differences of urinary continence researchers who enrolled, submitted papers, and belonged to the alliance of young and middle-aged doctors were analyzed.

There were 1413 valid conference registrations; 276 were female (21.8%). Of 296 valid submissions, 75 were female (25.3%). Of 72 speakers, six were women (8.3 %). The percentage of female speakers was lower than that of contributing researchers (p < 0.01). Of 66 Chinese Medical Association Urinary Continence Young and Middle-aged Doctors Alliance members, seven were women (10.6 %). The Chinese Continence Society of Chinese Urology Association had 43 members, including two women (4.7 %). Urinary continence researchers registered at the conference were concentrated in large cities and areas with better economic development.

An analysis of the 21st National Urology Conference on Urinary Continence showed that the number of female representatives of researchers in this field in China is insufficient. Of the 43 expert members of the Urinary Continence committee, only two are women. At the same time, the distribution of urinary continence researchers in China is uneven, with fewer personnel in economically backward and rural areas. We should pay attention to the plight of women in publishing high-quality papers, obtaining awards from the medical association, participating in the formulation of guidelines, joining the editorial board of journals, improving the employment environment of women in the urinary continence profession, and encouraging more female doctors and medical students to join urinary continence teams. In addition, attention should also be paid to the medical needs of patients with urinary continence-related diseases in economically backward and rural areas, and appropriate subsidies should be given to researchers working at the grassroots level to attract more outstanding talent.

Although female urologists have increased in number, few female researchers work in urinary continence. We should consider female urinary continence researchers’ needs, attempt to attract more outstanding female medical students and doctors to join urinary continence teams, and break gender barriers. Improving patient compliance and prognosis is also important. Given the increasing number of older adults and patients with urinary continence-related diseases, we should focus on the shortage of urologists specializing in this field and economically underdeveloped areas to continuously improve patients' quality of life.