Urinary Incontinence

Diagnosis

After reviewing your medical history, your doctor may ask you to keep a detailed record of the times and amounts of urine leakage over a 24- to 72-hour period. This sometimes is called a voiding diary. You can record your fluid intake during this period as well, and can document any possible triggers such as physical activity, coughing or laughing that might have contributed to your episodes of urinary leakage.

A neurological exam and a pelvic examination may help your doctor to better understand the cause of your urinary incontinence. Your examination may also include a test to determine whether you are able to empty your bladder completely. For this test, you will be asked to urinate to empty your bladder. Then, the amount of urine left in the bladder will be measured, either by ultrasound, or by draining the remaining urine from your bladder through a thin tube (a catheter) that is gently pushed into the urethra. A urinalysis usually is done, to check for a urinary tract infection.

If your doctor suspects that nerve injury is causing your incontinence, you may need to have a computed tomography scan (CT scan) or magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI scan) of your brain or spinal cord.

Expected Duration

Urinary incontinence may be a short-term problem if it is related to pregnancy or to a urinary tract infection. Urinary incontinence that is related to muscle weakness, pelvic injury or nerve problems is more often a long-term problem.