Overview
When is urodynamic testing performed?
It can be done to find the cause of:
- urinary leakage
- urinary frequency or urgency
- urinary retention (difficulty emptying your bladder)
- other pelvic floor or bladder issues.
This test might also be performed before you have surgery for a prolapse, even if you don’t have other symptoms.
What are the risks of this test?
- You may feel some discomfort during the test. Most people tolerate the test well.
- Urinary tract infection can occur after the test.
- A very small amount of bleeding may occur.
We always seek to minimise these risks. You should ask your doctor or nurse how these risks may apply to you.
Related services
Getting here
Find us at:
300 Princes Highway
Werribee Victoria 3030
For more information on getting here, visit Werribee Mercy Hospital .
Location details
The Continuing Care Centre located on the ground floor of the Catherine Macaulay building. Enter by the door on your right before you come in the main entrance
On-site signage and indicators
Look for the Look for the Continuing Care Centre entrance. Follow the onsite signs signs on-site.
How can people get access?
If you need help on arrival, please ask any of our friendly staff to show you where to find your clinic.
On arrival to your appointment you will first speak with a member of our reception team to check you in for your appointment.
Please arrive 30 minutes before your appointment. This will give you enough time to find parking and locate the Continuing Care Centre. Appointment lengths vary according to your needs. Please allow up to an hour and a half for your whole visit.
Parking:
Visitor parking is available at the Werribee Mercy Hospital site. All car parks can be accessed via the hospital entrance on Hoppers Lane. The closest car park is the front car park, P1.
If you park in the multi level car park (P5) you will need to follow the signs to the continuing care centre. This can be up to a ten minute walk.
Opening hours
The Urdodynamics Clinic operates once a month on Monday, 9:00am-12:30pm.
Your appointment
What to do before
Please complete a three-day bladder diary before your appointment.
See your general practitioner (GP) if you feel worse in the days or weeks leading up to your appointment.
If you cannot attend your appointment we will assist you to reschedule another time. Please contact the Outpatient Clinics as soon as possible on 8754 6700.
If you no longer need to see one of the specialist doctors or you have been seen elsewhere, please advise us as soon as possible that you wish to cancel your appointment.
If you do not come without telling us twice, your GP and specialist will be contacted and your appointments cancelled. You can get another referral if you would like another appointment made
Please bring someone to assist you with supervising children during your appointment. If you require childcare and are unable to make arrangements, please advise staff so we can reschedule your appointment. Mercy Health staff are not permitted to supervise children during your appointment.
Bring your Medicare card (please note there will be a $350 fee on the day if you do not have a card).
If you wish to see a female doctor and your are having a baby or seeing the gynaecology clinic please tell reception staff and we can organise this on the day.
What to bring
- Please complete a three-day bladder diary and bring it with you to your test.
- Please arrive for your test with a comfortably full (not bursting) bladder. There may be a short wait after you arrive.
- The test takes about 30 minutes. You will see a doctor for a consultation after your test. You can expect to be at the hospital for about one hour.
- We will explain the test, answer your questions and seek your verbal permission to perform the test before we begin.
- your appointment letter
- your Medicare card
- a list of your current medication, if there have been any changes since your last appointment
- your private health insurance card if applicable.
- you may also like to bring a bottle of water and a book to read
What to expect on the day
- You will change into a hospital gown and empty your bladder into a special urodynamic toilet. This is done in a private bathroom.
- You will then sit in a special procedure chair. This allows your doctor or nurse to perform the test safely.
- Fine tubes (catheters) will be moved in and out of your bladder. A small tube is also inserted into your rectum. These tubes measure your bladder pressures.
- Your bladder is filled with some sterile water through one of the tubes. We will perform some more measurements once you tell us your bladder is full.
- You will have an ultrasound to look at the movement of your bladder neck.
- You will empty your bladder again into the special urodynamic toilet. You may need one last tube inserted into your bladder if you can’t empty by yourself.
- There are no needles involved in this test.
- You will not be sedated. You can be given a local numbing gel into the urethra before the test, if you choose.
- All tubes are removed at the end of the test.
More information
Team Composition
Throughout this experience, you will be supported by:
- a nurse
- a specialist doctor
What questions should you ask
Why do I need this medicine or operation?
How long will I need to take the medicine?
If I need an operation what will happen afterwards?
Do I need to take time off from work?
If you require a medical certificate or carer’s certificate, please ask your midwife or doctor during your appointment.
Discharge information
- You may go home straight after the test.
- You may drive a car or return to work as normal straight after the test.
- You should drink plenty of fluids for the next two days to prevent an infection.
- You may feel some slight discomfort when passing urine, for a few hours after the test.
- You can take Ural sachets for the first 24 hours after the test.
- You may see some blood in your urine.
Additional support
Seek medical advice if:
- you develop a fever or are feeling unwell
- you have cloudy or smelly urine
- there is a lot of blood in your urine
- you cannot pass urine.
Who to call if you have concerns afterwards
The Outpatient Clinics can be contacted on 03 8754 6700
For health professionals
The Urodynamics Clinic provides detailed information regarding bladder function.
How to prepare the patient
Please advise your patient that the specialist doctor will refer them to the Urodynamics Clinic (if required) once they have been seen in the Urogynaecology clinic.
Please advise your patient that they will be referred to the Urodynamics if required by the specialist doctor at their Urogynaecology Clinic appointment. It takes eight days to process a referral. On day eight a letter will be sent to them, their GP and the referrer advising of the referral outcome (either an appointment or allocation to the waiting list). For more information on what happens next, please refer to our understanding the referral process page. If your patient’s condition changes before they see the specialist, they should either contact their GP or go to Emergency Department.
What/when you should refer to us
Please follow the urogynaecology referral guidelines.
What/when you should not refer to us
Please follow the urogynaecology referral guidelines.
Make a referral
Access Urogynaecology referral forms and guidelines to make a referral for this service.
Service changed
27 November 2017
new service
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