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Urodynamics Testing

We offer Urodynamics Testing in the convenience and privacy of our office, which allows your physician to determine which type of incontinence you have and what the best way is to treat it.

Before you see your physician, he may want you to complete a Bladder Diary, which records all of your intake and urination for 24 hours, including any accidents you might have. You can download and print our Bladder Diary here and bring it with you to your visit.

Urodynamics examines the function of the bladder, urethra and pelvic floor muscles.  Urodynamics provides evaluation of the lower urinary system, allowing for proper treatment decisions to be made. Urodynamics refers to a series of diagnostic tests that evaluate the function of your bladder and urethra. These tests may be recommended if you have urinary incontinence (leakage of urine), recurrent bladder infections, a slow or weak urinary stream, incomplete bladder emptying, or frequent urination. These studies are done with special catheters and sensors which are attached to a computer and the information collected is interpreted by a physician. Some or all of the following tests may be performed at the same time:

  • Uroflowmetry. This study measures your urinary flow rate. You should come to the test feeling as though you need to urinate. Try not to empty your bladder one hour before your test is scheduled.
  • Electromyography (EMG). This study measures how well you can control your sphincter (outlet) muscles and helps determine if they are working in coordination with your bladder. “Sticky patches” (electrodes) will be placed near the rectum to record muscle activity.
  • Cystometrogram (CMG). This study measures your bladder capacity, evaluates how your bladder holds urine, and determines how well you can control your bladder.
  • One very small catheter will be placed in your bladder, and another catheter will be placed in your vagina or sometimes your rectum. These catheters will measure both the pressure inside your bladder, and the pressure your body exerts on your bladder.
  • You will be asked to report the sensations you feel as your bladder is filled (such as when you first feel the need to urinate and when that feeling intensifies).
  • You may be asked to cough, bear down, or stand during the test in order to check for leakage of urine. At the end of the study, you will be asked to urinate.

  • Pressure Flow Study. This study measures how well the bladder muscles, the sphincter, and the urethra work together. Your bladder will be filled until you feel that your bladder is completely full. The computer will measure the activity of your bladder muscles and sphincter, as well as the urinary flow rate and voided volume. If you would like to read more about Urodynamics Testing and what you can expect during your exam, please download our brochure here.

Cystoscopy

Cystoscopy and urethroscopy are performed together through a catheter-sized telescopic camera, enabling visual inspection of the bladder and urethra using a thin, lighted instrument called a cystoscope.
The cystoscope is inserted into your urethra in the office and is slowly advanced into the bladder. The physician can then visually inspect the bladder and urethra. Tiny surgical instruments can be inserted through the cystoscope that allow your doctor to remove samples of tissue. Some other procedures can be done at the same time, such as urethral bulking, where a bulking agent is injected behind the walls of the urethra to treat some types of stress incontinence.

Interstitial Cystitis (IC) Testing

We offer comprehensive testing and treatment for Interstitial Cystitis (IC), an often under-diagnosed and over-looked cause of female pelvic pain. This is also known as Painful Bladder Syndrome (PBS). Patients may have urinary frequency, urgency, and pressure or pain. Patients may also have increased urination at night, pain during intercourse, and discomfort while driving or working as the bladder fills.

This condition is often misdiagnosed and patients may go untreated for years. Many patients may have been diagnosed with recurrent urinary tract infections, overactive bladder syndrome, urethritis, or unexplained pelvic pain.

Screening for this condition can be done with the Pelvic Pain Urgency/Frequency (PUF) Patient Survey. You may download the PUF Questionaire here. If you score greater than 10, you may want to talk to your doctor about testing for IC. We do this in the office with a test called the Potassium Sensitivity Test (PST), where a small catheter is placing in the bladder and two solutions are inserted into the bladder. The first is a control solution, and the second contains potassium, which normally elicits the pain of IC. If it does, a rescue solution will be instilled to relieve your pain.

IC can be treated with diet, medications, or in some cases bladder instillations, where a solution is instilled into the bladder which relieves the pain and helps to treat the bladder. Talk to your doctor for more information.