Too many women and men, have been convinced they just had to live with the embarrassing, and sometimes painful, bladder problems that can develop as they age or in the case of women, have children.  We're here to help. Your bladder condition is a medical condition that can be treated, usually without invasive procedures or surgery. The first step toward successful treatment is to understand the root causes of your symptoms so a treatment program can be developed that is right for you.

Medical History and Symptoms
Holland Hospital and West Michigan Urological Associates comprehensive diagnosis begins with the most powerful tool available to modern medicine: taking the time to listen to patients. Our skilled nurses talk with you to understand your medical history and ask questions that can help us understand your symptoms. Often, the activities and times that lead to a leak or a more urgent need to go can provide clues to the root cause of your issue.

Physical examination
Once we understand your symptoms and medical history, we perform a routine physical examination to check on the health of the tissues that make up the urinary system.

As women age, and especially while entering menopause, their bodies begin to produce lower levels of the hormone estrogen. When a woman's estrogen levels fall, the vaginal tissues that control the bladder can thin or weaken, causing a leaking bladder or other urinary problems. (An estrogen cream is often effective in treating these symptoms.)

In addition to looking for thinning or weakening, a physical examination can check for inflammation or infection that could cause urinary urgency, frequency or pain.

Specialized testing
Sometimes the medical history and physical examination are inconclusive and more advanced testing is required. We use the very latest in urodynamic testing technology to understand how each organ and muscle in the urinary system is working. Urodynamic testing checks the bladder for leakage by measuring how well the bladder and urethra perform their jobs of storing and releasing urine. Results provide your doctor with the information necessary to diagnose the cause and nature of your condition and guide your treatment recommendations.