OBJECTIVES: To measure clinical parameters and health-related quality of life using the incontinence quality of life (I-QOL) instrument among consulting and non-consulting stress urinary incontinence (SUI) patients. METHODS: The I-QOL is a self-administered instrument that contains 22 items yielding a total score as well as three subscale scores (avoidance and limiting behaviors, psychosocial and social embarrassment). Physicians and consulting patients were identified in the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands and the US. Study participants completed questionnaires to obtain diagnostic and treatment information for patients and to also gather details on demographics, symptoms and quality of life. The non-consulting patients (those who did not consult a doctor) were also asked to complete questionnaires regarding their symptoms and quality of life. Statistical analysis included t-tests and multiple regressions, adjusting for multiple comparisons using Hochberg’s method. The analysis consisted of associations between I-QOL measures and treatment variables, diagnostic tests and severity of symptoms among consulting and non-consulting SUI patients. RESULTS: A sample of 2174 SUI consulting patients and 809 SUI non-consulting patients participated. Multivariate analysis showed that pad use among consulting patients was a predictor of the psychosocial subscale score (t=-3.52, p <0.01) whereas leakage during exercise predicted the avoidance and limiting behaviors subscale scores among non-consulting SUI patients (t=-4.47, p <0.05). The non-consulting SUI patients were younger than the consulting SUI patients (t=-8.99, p <0.0001). There were no statistically significant differences in employment and marital status between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: There were differences in association between the I-QOL subscores and symptom severity among consulting and non-consulting SUI patients. There was a significant age difference between the non-consulting and consulting SUI patients. Evaluation of I-QOL differences between consulting and non-consulting patients will require additional study.