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A physical examination will include an abdominal and rectal exam, a genital exam in men, and a pelvic exam in women. In some women, a pelvic examination may detect cystocele or urethrocele (protrusion of the bladder or urethra into the vaginal space).
Patients may be asked to keep a urinary diary, recording how many times you urinate during the day and night, and how often urinary leaking occurs.
Tests may include:
- Post-void residual (PVR) to measure amount of urine left after urination
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Urinalysis or urine culture to rule out urinary tract infection
- Urinary stress test (the patient is asked to stand with a full bladder, and then cough)
- Pad test (after placement of a pre-weighed sanitary pad, the patient is asked to exercise -- following exercise, the pad is re-weighed to determine the amount of urine loss)
- A pelvic or abdominal ultrasound
- X-rays with contrast dye of the kidneys and bladder
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Cystoscopy (inspection of the inside of the bladder)
- Urodynamic studies (tests to measure pressure and urine flow)
- Rarely, an EMG (electromyogram) is performed to study muscle activity in the urethra or pelvic floor
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