Diagnosing Incontinence: What to Expect & How to Get Support
A Look at How Doctors Diagnose Incontinence & What Comes Next
Urinary leaks and sudden loss of bladder control can be distressing and embarrassing for anyone. If you’re experiencing these issues, you’re not alone. At least 25 million Americans are living with bladder control issues, and as many as 53% have not had their condition diagnosed.
That’s a problem.
Without an incontinence diagnosis, effective treatments and life-improving solutions can become major challenges. The good news is that incontinence is as complex as to diagnose as other conditions — and that an official incontinence diagnosis can be a key first step to managing the condition and continuing to live your best life!
Unpacking how it all works, here’s more on:
- When Do Incontinence Diagnoses Typically Happen?
- How Do Doctors Diagnose Urinary Incontinence?
- What to Do After a Urinary Incontinence Diagnosis
- How to Get Incontinence Supplies Covered by Medicaid
This guide to diagnosing incontinence and what’s next shares the essentials in less than ~3 minutes. When you’re ready for expert help getting free incontinence supplies with Medicaid in WA, OR, or ID, contact MyMedSupplies.
Known for excellence, expertise, and customer-first service, MyMedSupplies is a premier medical supply provider in the Northwest U.S. that’s committed to offering the top-of-the-line incontinence products.
When Do Incontinence Diagnoses Typically Happen?
There’s no age or age range associated with most incontinence diagnoses. That’s because urinary incontinence can develop at any age and stage of life.
Most commonly, though, incontinence tends to arise:
- As people age: Bladder control issues can appear or intensify with advancing age.
- After significant health events: Certain medical conditions, including stress, sleep apnea, pregnancy and postpartum, and diabetes, can all contribute to incontinence.
Consequently, many begin to think “incontinence” could be at play, considering a professional diagnosis when:
- Symptoms start disrupting their daily life: These symptoms tend to include frequent leaks, sudden urges, or difficulty controlling the bladder.
- They experience specific events or trauma: Surgeries, childbirth, and even accidents can strain or damage the nerves, bladder, and more, contributing to incontinence.
- They receive certain diagnoses: Diabetes, neurological disorders, prostate issues, and more can also play a role in incontinence both in its development and in its progression to more severe stages.
Unfortunately, many people put off talking about incontinence because they’re embarrassed or they don’t see it as a “normal” part of aging.
However, seeking a diagnosis early can lead to prompt treatment, often with more options to improve quality of life.
So, if you experience frequent bladder leaks, difficulty urinating, or an uncontrollable urge to go, it may be time to see a healthcare provider for an evaluation.
How Do Doctors Diagnose Urinary Incontinence?
A doctor will perform a series of evaluations and tests to determine:
- Whether someone has incontinence and how severe it is
- What the underlying cause of incontinence is
These tests can help distinguish between different types of incontinence — including stress, urge, overflow, functional, or mixed — and, in turn, guide treatment decisions.
Generally, the evaluations and tests used to make an incontinence diagnosis will include some or all of the following:
- Medical history and symptom review: This is usually the starting point for any incontinence diagnosis, with a medical professional asking about symptoms, frequency of leaks, triggers, and your medical history. This process can help health care professionals understand the severity and potential causes of the condition.
- Physical exam: A pelvic exam (for women) or a prostate exam (for men) may be conducted to check for physiological issues that may be contributing to incontinence.
- Bladder diary: Physicians may ask patients to track their fluid intake, bathroom visits, leakage episodes, and urgency over several days to identify patterns.
- Urinalysis and urine culture: A urine sample will be collected and tested for infections, blood, or other abnormalities that may cause or worsen incontinence.
- Post-Void Residual (PVR) measurement: This test measures how much urine remains in the bladder after urination. It can identify issues with bladder emptying.
- Urodynamic testing: This involves a series of tests that assess bladder pressure, urine flow rate, and how well the bladder and urethra function.
- Cystoscopy: With this incontinence test, a small camera is inserted into the urethra. Sp doctors can inspect the bladder for structural problems or potential obstructions.
- Pelvic ultrasound: This will capture images of the bladder and surrounding organs to detect any abnormalities that may be contributing to incontinence.
- Stress test: Patients may be asked to cough or bear down while the doctor checks for leakage to try to see if stress incontinence may be present.
Each of these incontinence tests can uncover critical insights into the cause of urinary incontinence, helping the doctor recommend the most effective treatment plan.
What to Do After a Urinary Incontinence Diagnosis
An incontinence diagnosis can feel overwhelming, but it’s also the first step toward finding best-fit solutions that can greatly improve quality of life.
As a result, here are some prudent steps to take after you or a loved one has been diagnosed with incontinence:
- Discuss treatment options: Your doctor may suggest pelvic floor exercises, lifestyle modifications, medications, and/or incontinence products, like adult diapers. In some cases, surgical interventions may be recommended.
- Make lifestyle adjustments: Reducing caffeine, managing fluid intake, and maintaining a healthy weight can reduce incontinence symptoms for many.
- Try bladder training: This involves gradually increasing the time between bathroom visits to improve bladder control.
- Use the right incontinence products: High-quality adult diapers, pads, pant liners, bed pads, and more can help you manage leaks discreetly while keeping you comfortable, dry, and confident.
- Seek specialist care, if needed: If you experience more severe or worsening symptoms, it may be time to request a referral to a urologist or pelvic floor therapist for more in-depth treatment and care.
Taking proactive steps to treat incontinence can improve bladder health and your day-to-day comfort, simplifying what it takes to manage your condition.
How to Get Incontinence Supplies Covered by Medicaid: 5 Steps
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with urinary incontinence, Medicaid in Washington, Oregon, or Idaho may cover the cost of your incontinence supplies — as long as you’re eligible for coverage.
To find out if you’re incontinence products can be covered by Medicaid in WA, OR, or ID:
- Confirm Medicaid eligibility: Are you enrolled in Medicaid (in the state where you live)? Do you meet your state’s criteria for incontinence supply coverage? If you need help confirming or checking Medicaid eligibility, check:
- Here for WA Medicaid eligibility for free incontinence products.
- Here for OR Medicaid eligibility for free incontinence supplies.
- Here for ID Medicaid eligibility for free incontinence products.
- Obtain a prescription: Once you’re enrolled in Medicaid, you will need to visit your health care provider to establish medical necessity for incontinence supplies. While this can involve an incontinence diagnosis (for the first time), it should end with a prescription for incontinence products, specifying the exact types and amounts you’ll need each month.
- Prepare your documentation (If Required): Medical records, your prescription, specific forms, and other documents are usually required by state Medicaid programs to verify your need and eligibility for incontinence supplies.
- Choose a Medicaid-approved supplier: Work with a provider like MyMedSupplies to get the right incontinence products covered by Medicaid. Trusted providers like us can also help with step #3 above and step #5 below, ensuring you maintain reliable, uninterrupted access to the free incontinence products you need.
- Renew your coverage annually: Once approved for Medicaid incontinence supplies, you will need to renew your coverage every year, the same as any health insurance coverage. At this time, you’ll need an updated prescription for incontinence products too, even if your condition and needs have not changed.
Free Incontinence Products with Medicaid in WA, OR & ID
MyMedSupplies helps people just like you get incontinence supplies covered by Medicaid in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. With 40+ years’ experience in the medical supply and Medicaid space, we’re devoted to putting our customers’ first, going the extra mile, and providing exceptional service and reliable access to the best incontinence supplies
MyMedSupplies is also fully accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Inc. (ACHC) to provide Durable Medical Equipment, Respiratory Services, and Medical Supplies.
That’s why we have been a top-rated, well-reviewed medical supply store in the Pacific Northwest for decades — and why you can run to MyMedSupplies for trusted help getting free incontinence products with Medicaid.
Our professional coordinators are here for you, standing by ready to help now.