A number of steps may be needed to find the cause of urinary incontinence. These steps may vary. It depends on the nature of the problem. The first step often is a detailed medical history. You will be asked questions about factors that may affect your voiding habits. The voiding diary is one of the most useful methods to diagnose incontinence. The doctor may ask you to record the time and amount of urine leakage over 24-72 hours. You also may be asked to record how much water or other fluids you drank and any activity that might have caused the leakage.

A pelvic exam also may be done. It can detect physical conditions that might be linked to incon-tinence. Other exams and tests used may include:

• Lab tests to detect urinary tract infection.
• Stress test-patient must cough a few times with a full bladder. Any loss of urine is recorded.
• Pad test-patient wears a preweighed pad for one hour while doing a series of movements. If the pad weighs more at end of the hour, there was a loss of urine.
• Dye test-patient wears a pad while a nontox-ic dye is put into the bladder. If the pad is stained with the dye, there was a loss of urine.
• Cystometry-the pressure and volume of the bladder as it is filled with fluid is measured.

These tests can help detect the cause of the problem. Some patients may have more than one cause. Knowing the cause helps your doctor select the best treatment for you.