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Your doctor will measure your bladder capacity and residual urine for evidence of poorly functioning bladder muscles. To do this, you will drink plenty of fluids and urinate into a measuring pan, after which the doctor will measure any urine remaining in the bladder. Your doctor may also recommend
- Stress test--You relax, then cough vigorously as the doctor watches for loss of urine.
- Urinalysis--Urine is tested for evidence of infection, urinary stones, or other contributing causes.
- Blood tests--Blood is taken, sent to a laboratory, and examined for substances related to causes of incontinence.
- Ultrasound--Sound waves are used to "see" the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.
- Cystoscopy--A thin tube with a tiny camera is inserted in the urethra and used to see the inside of the urethra and bladder.
- Urodynamics--Various techniques measure pressure in the bladder and the flow of urine.
Your doctor may ask you to keep a diary for a day or more, up to a week, to record when you void. This diary should note the times you urinate and the amounts of urine you produce. To measure your urine, you can use a special pan that fits over the toilet rim.
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