The first step in diagnosing urinary incontinence is to see a specialist who focuses on urological problems in women for a complete medical exam.  Saint John’s is proud to have urogynecologists on staff who are dedicated to treating women with incontinence issues.  The team of experts will analyze each patient’s condition by conducting all necessary testing.

Common tests for urinary incontinence include:

• Bladder Diary: A doctor may go over a bladder diary that he or she has asked the patient to complete at home over several days. The patient will record how much she drinks, when she urinates, the amount of urine she produces, whether she had an urge to urinate and the number of incontinence episodes. 
   
  
• Urinalysis: A sample of urine is sent to a laboratory, where it's checked for signs of infection, traces of blood or other abnormalities.
  

Specialized Testing
If further testing is needed, a woman may undergo additional testing such as:

• Postvoid Residual (PVR) Measurement: This is measurement of the urine left in the bladder after urinating.  It is performed with either an ultrasound or a painless catheter. This test helps a doctor determine whether a woman has difficulty emptying her bladder.
   
  
• Pelvic Ultrasound: Ultrasound may be used to view other parts of the urinary tract or genitals to check for abnormalities
   
  
• Stress Test: For this test, the patient will be asked to cough vigorously or bear down as the doctor examines her and watches for loss of urine.
   
  
• Urodynamic Testing: These tests measure pressure in the bladder both at rest and when filling. A doctor or nurse inserts a tiny, painless catheter into the urethra and bladder and then the catheter is used to fill the bladder with water while a monitor measures and records the pressure within the bladder.
   
  
• Cystogram: In this X-ray of the bladder, a painless catheter is inserted into the urethra and bladder. Through the catheter, a doctor injects a fluid containing a special dye. As the patient urinates and expels this fluid, images show up on a series of X-rays. These images help reveal any problems with the urinary tract.
   
  
• Cystoscopy: In this procedure, a thin tube with a tiny lens (cystoscope) is inserted into the urethra. With the aid of this device, a doctor can painlessly check for abnormalities in the urinary tract.