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.

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.