[Clinical evaluation of urinary incontinence in the woman]

Clinical assessment of stress and urge incontinence in women is always necessary before making therapeutic decisions. During the full bladder examination stress incontinence triggered by cough may suggest cervicourethral hypermobility. Leakage during the Vasalva manoeuvre may reveal incontinence due to intrinsic sphincter deficiency. The pad test provides an objective quantitative measurement of the degree of incontinence. Symptom scores enable intra- and inter-individual comparisons. Psychosocial implications are studied with specific quality-of-life scales. Together, these tests improved therapeutic strategies for managing stress and urge incontinence, providing an objective evaluation of the different treatments and thus a better medico-economic approach to the problem.