If your medical history does not define the problem, it will at least suggest which tests are needed. Your doctor will physically examine you for signs of medical conditions causing incontinence, such as tumors that block the urinary tract, stool impaction, and poor reflexes or sensations, which may be evidence of a nerve-related cause. 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. You relax, then cough vigorously as the doctor watches for loss of urine.
Blood is taken, sent to a laboratory, and examined for substances related to causes of incontinence.
A thin tube with a tiny camera is inserted in the urethra and used to see the urethra and bladder. Various techniques measure pressure in the bladder and the flow of urine. Your doctor may ask you to keep a diary to record when you void for a day or more, up to a week. 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.