We present our functional experience with orthotopic bladder replacement in female patients dependent on the urethral resection line. Between November 1986 and July 1998 42 women underwent orthotopic urinary tract reconstruction with an ileal neobladder at our institution: 26 patients underwent radical cystectomy (RCx) with subsequent ileal anastomosis to the urethra, and 16 underwent simple cystectomy (SCx) with preservation of the bladder neck. Fourteen of 22 patients following RCx and 3 of 14 patients following bladder neck-sparing cystectomy void naturally. Clean intermittent catheterization is necessary in 8 of 22 and 11 of 14 patients, respectively. Perfect continence with no pads at 1 year postoperatively was achieved in 15 of 18 evaluable patients following RCx and 10 of 11 patients following bladder neck sparing. Incontinence requiring one or more pads is present in 3 of 18 patients and 1 of 11 patients, respectively. Subjectively satisfactory continence was achieved in 16 of 18 patients following RCx and in all patients following bladder neck-sparing surgery. Our conclusions are that radical cystectomy as well as a bladder neck-sparing cystectomy does provide satisfactory functional results in the majority of patients. However, the urethral resection line does slightly influence the rate of incontinence as well as the requirement for intermittent catheterization. RCx does translate into a lesser requirement for CIC, whereas bladder neck sparing results in slightly better continence rates.