Urologic Conditions

Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is defined as the inability to control the bladder. It can be mild, resulting in leakage when you laugh, exercise or cough, to severe, resulting in the sudden incontrollable urge to urinate and inability to control it until you reach a toilet. To determine more about your case of incontinence, it is likely that your doctor will perform a test. This may include a urinalysis, ultrasound, cystoscopy, or urodynamics study. Treatment for your incontinence will depend on the severity of the case.

Risk Factors
Past surgeries (prostatectomy, hysterectomy), childbirth history, diet, obesity, smoking, caffeine, some medications.

Cystoscopy
This is a simple, in-office procedure that allows your doctor to see the inside of the bladder and urethra. The physician will use a small lens equipped with fiber-optic lighting, called a cystoscope, to perform the procedure. Sometimes, the physician will also perform a biopsy, inserting a small tool through the urethra and into the bladder to collect a tissue sample for testing.

Urodynamics Study
Your physician may want to schedule an urodynamics study with you to help evaluate your bladders ability to store and empty (void) urine. The urodynamics study consists of three parts:

Uroflow
To measure the volume and speed of urine your void from your bladder.

Cystometrogram (CMG)
Filling of your bladder with sterile water to determine how efficiently your sphincter muscle is working to either hold urine or allow it to pass.

Pressure Flow
After the filling of bladder, you will be asked to urinate with pressure sensors in place.

You will be asked to perform some preparation prior to your visit. A urine sample will need to be dropped off one week before your visit to test for infection. Other preparation includes: – Perform a fleet enema 3 hours prior to your test. – Arrive 15 minutes early with a full bladder. – Complete voiding diary for 24 hours.