Fellowship-Trained Urogynecologist
Urogynecology & Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery
Green Bay, Wisconsin
✓ Medically reviewed March 2026
How Is Urinary Incontinence Diagnosed?
Diagnosing urinary incontinence is usually straightforward and doesn’t require invasive testing. Most of the information your doctor needs comes from listening to your story, examining you, and reviewing simple tests. The goal is to determine what type of incontinence you have and what’s contributing to it, so treatment can be appropriately targeted.
What to Expect at Your Evaluation
Your medical history is the most important part. Your doctor will ask about:
- When leaking occurs — during activity, with urgency, or both
- How often and how much you leak
- What triggers your symptoms
- Your fluid intake and bathroom habits
- Pregnancies, deliveries, and any pelvic surgeries
- Medications you take
- How symptoms affect your daily life
A detailed conversation tells me more than almost any test. By the time we’ve talked through your symptoms, I usually have a very good idea of what type of incontinence we’re dealing with and what the best treatment approach will be.
Physical Examination
A pelvic examination allows your doctor to:
- Assess the strength and coordination of your pelvic floor muscles
- Check for prolapse (descent of pelvic organs)
- Evaluate the health of vaginal and urethral tissues
- Perform a “cough stress test” — asking you to cough with a full bladder to observe leaking
Simple Tests
- Urinalysis — checking for infection, blood, or other abnormalities
- Bladder diary — a 2-3 day log of fluid intake, bathroom trips, and leaking episodes
- Post-void residual — a quick ultrasound to measure how much urine remains after you empty your bladder
When More Testing Is Needed
Most women can be diagnosed and begin treatment without advanced testing. However, urodynamic testing may be recommended if:
- Your symptoms don’t match a clear pattern
- Previous treatments haven’t worked
- Surgery is being considered
- You have neurological conditions affecting bladder function
I try to keep the evaluation as simple as possible. For most women, we can make an accurate diagnosis and start treatment based on our conversation, the exam, and basic tests. I only recommend urodynamics when it will genuinely change our treatment approach.
← Learn more about Urinary Incontinence