Office evaluation of female urinary incontinence

The diagnosis and therapy of urinary incontinence in the female patient demand an orderly approach to this complex problem. In this article, the authors suggest a classification that can simplify the approach to the differential diagnosis; review the "catheterization test," a simple diagnostic modality; and briefly discuss some of the surgical and nonsurgical options for therapy. The primary emphasis is on the evaluation of the loss of urine per urethra.