Urodynamic Testing

If you have any involuntary urine leakage, tell your Oakdale Ob/Gyn doctor or nurse practitioner. After you discuss your symptoms with your Oakdale Ob/Gyn doctor or nurse practitioner, he or she may perform urodynamic testing.

Urodynamics is the study of how the body stores and empties urine. An urodynamic study is a series of tests that gives your doctor or nurse practitioner a detailed look at the function of your bladder and urethra and provides information about bladder problems. These tests can help your doctor evaluate any problems you have with storing urine or eliminating urine from your body.

Possible problems include the following:

  • You may be incontinent (leak urine)
  • Your bladder may not empty completely
  • You may have symptoms that include the frequent need to urinate or constant, urgent need to urinate
  • Your urine stream may be intermittent or weak
  • You may have persistent urinary tract infections

Your doctor or nurse practitioner may order an urodynamics test, which is performed at our Oakdale Ob/Gyn-Plymouth location in the West Health medical office building (www.westhealth.com). 

When are urodynamic studies needed?

Based on your symptoms, your Oakdale Ob/Gyn doctor or nurse practitioner will use urodynamic studies to:

  • Confirm a diagnosis, especially if this is essential
  • Confirm performing more invasive or irreversible treatment, for example, Surgery
  • Monitor a serious condition, for example, a Neurogenic Bladder
  • Better determine or assess your condition.

What types of tests can you expect?

Your Oakdale Ob/Gyn doctor or nurse practitioner may choose to perform a number of different urodynamic tests.

Uroflowmetry: This test measures the amount and speed of urine you void from your bladder. You urinate into a special toilet; a funnel attached to a computer records your urine flow. A small flexible catheter (tube) is placed into your bladder after you have finished voiding to measure the amount of urine you have left in your bladder.

Cystometry: This test evaluates how much urine your bladder can hold, the strength of the bladder muscle and how well the signals work that tell you when your bladder is full.

Electromyogram: This test helps evaluate if the nerves and bladder muscle contractions that control urination are working correctly. Electrode patches are placed near the rectum to record muscle contractions. There are no needles involved in the test.

Pressure Flow Study: This test measures the pressure and flow of urine out of your bladder. You will be asked to urinate while a catheter (small tube) in the urethra measures the pressure.

Getting ready for a urodynamic study

Prior to your test: You will be asked to complete an urogynecology questionnaire and to keep a two-day diary of your urination habits. The diary and questionnaire are helpful parts of your evaluation.

Tell your Oakdale Ob/Gyn doctor any medications you are taking and ask if you need to discontinue them before the study.

Day of test: Oakdale Ob/Gyn doctors and nurse practitioners complete urodynamic studies at our Oakdale Ob/Gyn-Plymouth location, in the West Health medical office building. Please arrive for the study with a full bladder.

After your urodynamics study: How Oakdale Ob/Gyn helps you

Following your urodynamics study, we will work with you to create a care plan and explore services that best meet your needs.

In addition to urodynamic studies, our Oakdale Ob/Gyn doctors and nurse practitioners perform pessary (weights) fittings, complete surgical consultations or offer lifestyle and behavioral solutions to help reduce your symptoms and improve your quality of life.