Differentiating stress urinary incontinence from urge urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence (UI) is any involuntary leakage of urine and can be further defined according to the patient's symptoms or complaints. Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is the complaint of involuntary leakage on effort or exertion, or on sneezing or coughing. Urge urinary incontinence (UUI) is characterized by the complaint of involuntary leakage accompanied by or immediately preceded by urgency. Mixed urinary incontinence (MUI) is the presence of both SUI and UUI symptoms. In order to effectively treat UI, an accurate diagnosis is necessary since treatment of SUI or UUI is very different. Assessment obtaining a detailed medical history includes making general assessments taking into account quality of life (QoL), performing an appropriate physical examination with cough stress test; and simple investigations namely a urinary diary, urine analysis and post-void residual assessment and, occasionally, simple urodynamics. These assessments should suffice to commence conservative treatment. Multichannel urodynamics are required in patients presenting with more complicated UI and prior to surgery.