[Exploration of urinary incontinence in women]

The diagnosis of urinary incontinence is based on history and physical examination. For the patient, the incontinence is related with a wet vulva, but history differentiate stress from urge incontinence and note the associated urinary symptoms and alterations in bowel habit or sexual function. Physical examination confirms urinary incontinence and assess pelvic prolapses, perineal, muscle tone and skin condition. Specialized tests include imaging and urodynamic tests. Imaging tests are dynamics and identify the position and the aspect of the bladder neck during resting and straining view. Urodynamic tests are designed to determine the functional status of the bladder. They assess the detrusor function, the urethral pressure, the transmission of the pressure from the bladder to the urethra. After clinical evaluation and specialized tests, the urinary incontinence could be identified and evaluated so that an adapted treatment can be proposed.