Objectives: To conduct a retrospective study of the clinical outcomes between tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) and Burch colposuspension for managing types I and II stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women. Patients and methods: Between 1999 and 2002 a total of 32 TVT procedures and 43 Burch colposuspensions were used for managing 75 women with types SUI (types I and II) for a minimum follow-up period of one year. Results: The overall short-term (one year follow-up) success rates for TVT were 87.5% versus 90.7% for Burch colposuspension. The cure rates were sustained in the vast majority of patients during the short-term follow-up period (one year). Postoperative transient obstructive voiding dysfunctions were significantly more severe and common in Burch colposuspension (25.6%) versus (15.6%) for TVT. Further details of the clinical outcome and complications are presented. Conclusion: Both options are effective in managing SUI (types I and II) with comparable success rates. The success rate is marginally higher for the Burch colposuspension. However, the TVT procedure had shorter operative time, shorter hospital stay, fewer and milder complication rate, and is feasible under local anaesthesia. Nevertheless, the long-term results regarding the durability of the improvement rates are still to be further awaited for the TVT procedure.