Assessment of urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence is a highly prevalent condition in women in their post-reproductive years. It is becoming an increasingly common presenting complaint as population demographics continue to change and further emphasis is placed on improving quality of life in this group of women. A wide variety of tools are available to assess the extent of the clinical problem and the impact that this has on psychosocial function. Many different health specialities are involved in caring for this group of patients, including general practitioners, gynaecologists, urologists, physiotherapists, and continence nurses. It is important to individualise each patient's assessment starting with a medical history and examination and leading on to appropriate specialist investigations.