8.4: Examination
- Page ID
- 15614
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A good general examination looking for systemic causes of urinary symptoms is vital.
Abdominal and pelvic examinations should concentrate on detecting local lesions and anomalies, which might cause urinary obstruction, such as pelviabdominal tumours, utero-vaginal prolapse, vulvo-vaginitis, urethritis and evidence of pelvic floor spasm or relaxation.
In difficult cases, with mixed urinary symptoms, or where symptoms have had sudden onset, careful neurological examination including inspecting the lumbar spine, assessing sensory and motor function in the pelvic area and checking peripheral reflexes are all important features of the examination.