An evaluation of the American Urological Association (AUA) symptom index was recently published as a valid symptom score for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). To determine the specificity prospectively of the index for BPH and bladder outlet obstruction, we chose to administer the index to 38 consecutive women with voiding symptoms who were previously scheduled for video urodynamic evaluation. In each case the index was self-administered before the urodynamic study. Index determination was then repeated 1 to 4 months after the institution of therapy. Only 3 of the 38 women demonstrated true urethral obstruction. One patient exhibited urethral compression after a pubovaginal sling urethral suspension, 1 with multiple sclerosis demonstrated detrusor external sphincter dyssynergia and 1 suffered bladder neck obstruction caused by a leiomyoma. The AUA symptom index for the 35 nonobstructed women ranged from 4 to 33 (mean 17.6) Of the women 15 scored between 8 and 18, while 14 had a score of greater than 18. The mean score decreased to 9.4 after the institution of therapy, which included bladder suspension surgery, anticholinergics, timed voiding and pelvic floor exercises. Of the 3 women with bladder outlet obstruction the mean score was 22.7 before and 11.0 after therapy. A greater decrease in the AUA symptom index occurred among the obstructed group after urological therapy compared to the nonobstructed group. Our results indicate that the AUA symptom index is not specific for BPH. The index score for the women in our study rivaled the scores reported for men with BPH.