Tests to Diagnose What's Causing Incontinence

Your name: Your e-mail address: Your friend's e-mail addresses:

(separate multiple addresses with comma)
Indicates required field
Message (limit 100 characters)
Enter answer below:

(Why the math? It protects against spam)
=
Send
Cancel
Your message has been successfully sent!

Your doctor may recommend one or more of the following tests to help determine what's causing your incontinence. All of these tests can be done in the doctor's office and do not require surgery.

• Urinalysis: A sample of your urine will be analyzed for bacteria, blood, or other abnormalities. Some analyses can be done right away, such as testing for bacteria, but some will take a couple of days for the results to come back from the lab.
• Postvoid Residual Measurement: If you have the urge to urinate frequently but don't void much fluid, your doctor might recommend a postvoid residual measurement test to see if you are emptying your bladder completely. To do this, you will urinate, and then your doctor will insert a small, soft tube (catheter) into the bladder through the urethra to drain any remaining urine. Alternatively, your doctor might use an abdominal ultrasound to get an image of your bladder and the amount of fluid in it.
• Ultrasound: Your doctor may do an ultrasound to check for abnormal growths and to view and measure the size and shape of your kidneys and bladder. In men, the prostate will also be viewed.
• Cystoscopy: Depending on your condition, your doctor might need to look at the inside of your bladder. To do this, a thin telescope-like instrument called a cystoscope is inserted into your bladder through the urethra.
• Stress Test: A stress test measures how well your bladder and sphincter muscles are functioning. A typical stress test involves being x-rayed while urinating, coughing, or straining in order to see how your bladder reacts to these activities.