Stress urinary incontinence is a common condition that can severely affect a woman's quality of life. Midurethral slings (tension-free vaginal tape and transobturator tape) are becoming first-line surgical treatments for stress urinary incontinence in women. Both procedures gained worldwide popularity immediately after they were introduced. Short operative time, brief hospitalization period, and ease of application have played a role in their acceptance. Sufficient data support the use of both retropubic and transobturator approaches for the placement of a midurethral sling. However, longer follow up in larger populations should assess the long-term reliability of these procedures.