Diagnosis of Incontinence, urinary

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Donâ€™t be embarrassed about going to see your GP about your incontinence. It may be useful to keep a diary of your bladder habits because they will ask you questions such as:

How often do you need to go to the toilet?
Do you need to go to the toilet during the night?
Is it painful to pass urine?
How much urine do you pass?
Do you drink a lot of tea, coffee, or alcohol?
Are you stressed?
Do you leak urine when you laugh, cough or when you are exercising?
Do you leak urine during sex, particularly when you orgasm?

You may need to have some examinations and you may be referred to a hospital specialist (urologist or gynaecologist).

Tests may include:

Urinalysis â€“ a urine examination and check for other substances in the urine such as protein, blood or bacteria (often used to decide what antibiotics would work).
Urodynamic tests - tests of bladder function and bladder pressure. Measurements of urine flow and pressure are taken by having a catheter placed in your bladder while you are passing urine. This helps to distinguish between the two main types of incontinence.
A pad test can help the doctor find out how much urine you lose in an hour, on average. When you have a full bladder, you will be given a pad to place in your pants and asked to perform daily activities such as stretching.
Men may have their urinary flow rate checked and a rectal examination (to look for prostate cancer).Â· Examination of vagina and rectum (back passage).
You may need X-rays or an ultrasound to check the kidneys and ureters.
A cystoscopy is an examination of the inside the bladder using a thin telescope passed along the urethra. It can be performed under local or general anaesthetic and may reveal stones, polyps (small abnormal tissue growths) or tumours.

These tests will help your GP to rule out other causes of your symptoms such as an infection, diabetes, bladder cancer, a tumour, or prostate cancer (in men).