Urodynamics helps to diagnose types of urinary incontinence near Crystal Lake

Urinary incontinence can be a very big problem for people of various ages. Women who are taking certain medications, or who have gone through menopause, may find that they have more trouble holding urine. The inconvenience and embarrassment that can come from various types of urinary incontinence can have a great impact on quality of life. In our office near Crystal Lake, Dr. Gandhi performs precise testing to help patients find their most suitable form of treatment.

Urodynamics helps to diagnose types of urinary incontinence

The first step in devising a treatment plan for incontinence is to become familiar with the unique way in which your bladder functions, as not every person is the same. One form of testing performed by incontinence specialists is urodynamics, a process that helps us to gain a better understanding of how the bladder functions in terms of bladder storage and elimination. Urodynamic testing may be recommended in a number of instances such as:

  • Literal incontinence, or the leakage of urine
  • Problems with frequency
  • There are sudden, strong urges to urinate
  • Urination is painful
  • Urination is difficult to begin
  • Urination is ineffective, without full emptying of the bladder
  • Chronic bladder infections

Dr. Gandhi, at North Shore Urogynecology, offers compassionate care that is tailored to your precise needs. Urodynamic testing gives us the necessary information to identify urinary problems definitively. This form of testing may also be performed both before and after surgery for incontinence as a way to determine the extent of change achieved through treatment.

Urodynamic testing is not a solitary test, but a group of procedures that varies based on the specifics of each case, such as suspected cause of incontinence. Using a catheter, Dr. Gandhi carefully measures the amount of post-void residual left in the bladder after urination. This test allows him to determine whether the bladder is fully emptied, as it should be. The bladder is then slowly filled with water via the catheter until the urge to urinate occurs. This second test measures the capacity of the bladder.

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Sanjay Gandhi, M.D.

Sanjay Gandhi, M.D.
Partners in Pelvic Health North Shore Urogynecology

Conditions affecting the female pelvis are the focus at Partners in Pelvic Health North Shore Urogynecology. We provide effective solutions for these problems from our offices at Park City, Woodstock, and Lake Forest in Illinois.

Our team is headed by Sanjay Gandhi, MD, Urogynecologist. Dr. Gandhi’s specialized education included a residency in gynecology and obstetrics at Northwestern University and a three-year urogynecology fellowship. He is among a few in the country to pass the first examination in Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery (URPS) of The American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He also teaches healthcare students.