📋 Preparation Required

Arrive with Comfortably Full Bladder

Drink 32 ounces (approximately 1 liter) of water about 1 hour before your appointment.

You should feel the urge to urinate when you arrive - similar to:

  • "I need to go soon"
  • Moderate urgency level
  • Comfortably full, not painfully full

⚠️ Important: Do not empty your bladder right before the test unless instructed by your healthcare team.

What Is the UroCuff® Test?

The UroCuff® Test is a non-invasive diagnostic tool that helps your urologist better understand how your bladder and urinary system are working. It evaluates male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), such as:

Common Symptoms Evaluated:

  • Weak urine flow
  • Difficulty starting urination
  • Difficulty stopping urination
  • Frequent urination
  • Urgency
  • Incomplete emptying sensation

What It Measures:

  • Bladder pressure during voiding
  • Urine flow rate
  • Volume of urine passed
  • Bladder function patterns
  • Outlet resistance

Key advantage: Unlike traditional pressure-flow studies that require a catheter, the UroCuff Test measures bladder function while you urinate naturally.

How the UroCuff® Test Works

Simple, Non-Invasive Process

Step 1: Sensor Placement

  • A small, single-use sensor (cuff) is placed gently on the tip of the penis
  • Lubricant is applied beforehand for comfort
  • The cuff creates a light seal around the tip
  • Process takes just 1-2 minutes

Step 2: Urination

  • You urinate normally into a collection device
  • Urine flows through the UroCuff sensor
  • The cuff measures flow rate and volume
  • At the same time, it measures the pressure your bladder generates
  • You're in a private room with complete privacy

Step 3: Removal

  • When you finish urinating, clinician releases the seal
  • The cuff is easily removed and discarded
  • Quick and painless

Total test time: Just a few minutes from start to finish

Benefits of UroCuff® vs Traditional Testing

✅ UroCuff® Test

  • No catheter required
  • No discomfort from catheter insertion
  • Natural voiding pattern measured
  • Quick - just minutes
  • Private - urinate normally
  • No infection risk from catheterization
  • Well-tolerated by all patients

Traditional Pressure-Flow Study

  • Requires urethral catheter
  • Discomfort from catheter
  • Voiding with catheter in place (unnatural)
  • Longer setup time
  • More invasive
  • Small infection risk
  • Some patients cannot tolerate

What the Results Tell Your Doctor

The UroCuff Test provides your urologist with critical information to diagnose and treat your symptoms:

Bladder Outlet Obstruction

  • High bladder pressure + low flow rate = likely obstruction (enlarged prostate, stricture)
  • Helps determine if surgery would benefit you
  • Guides choice of procedure (TURP, Urolift, Aquablation, etc.)

Weak Bladder Muscle

  • Low bladder pressure + low flow rate = underactive bladder
  • Suggests surgery may not help
  • Guides toward medical management or catheterization

Normal Function with Symptoms

  • Normal pressures and flow suggest other causes
  • May indicate overactive bladder, behavioral issues, or other diagnoses
  • Helps avoid unnecessary surgery

Bottom line: This objective data helps your doctor recommend the right treatment for YOUR specific situation, avoiding trial-and-error approaches.

Preparing for Your UroCuff® Test

Before Your Appointment

✅ Required Preparation:

1. Drink 32 ounces (1 liter) of water
2. Drink it 1 hour before your scheduled appointment
3. Do NOT empty your bladder before arriving
4. Arrive with comfortably full bladder

What "Comfortably Full" Means:

  • You feel the urge to urinate
  • NOT painfully full or desperate
  • Similar to when you'd normally look for a restroom
  • Moderate urgency level (see urgency scale in original handout)

Other Preparation:

  • Take all regular medications as normal
  • No fasting required
  • Wear comfortable clothing
  • Bring list of current medications

During Your Test

What to Expect

  • Privacy: You'll be in a private room or bathroom
  • Setup: Technician applies lubricant and places the UroCuff sensor (takes 1-2 minutes)
  • Testing: You urinate normally while device records measurements
  • Completion: When finished, technician removes sensor immediately
  • No pain: Most patients report no discomfort
  • Natural: Urinate as you normally would

Total time: 5-10 minutes including setup and cleanup

After the Test

  • No recovery time needed - resume all activities immediately
  • No restrictions - drive, work, exercise as normal
  • No side effects - completely non-invasive
  • Results: Your doctor will review with you at follow-up appointment

This test has no complications or risks - it's as safe as normal urination.

What Conditions Can Be Diagnosed?

The UroCuff Test helps diagnose and evaluate:

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

Determines if enlarged prostate is causing obstruction and if surgery would help

Bladder Outlet Obstruction

Identifies blockage from prostate, stricture, or other causes

Underactive Bladder

Detects weak bladder muscle that may not benefit from surgery

Treatment Planning

Guides selection of best BPH procedure (TURP, Urolift, Aquablation, etc.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it hurt?

No. The sensor is placed gently with lubricant. Most patients report no discomfort - just normal urination.

How is this different from regular flow test?

Regular uroflowmetry only measures flow rate. UroCuff also measures the PRESSURE your bladder generates, which is critical for diagnosing obstruction vs weak bladder.

What if I can't urinate during the test?

This is rare since you arrive with full bladder. If it happens, we'll have you drink more water and try again. Relaxation techniques help.

Do I need someone to drive me?

No - there's no sedation or anesthesia. You can drive yourself.

What if I drink too much water?

If you're uncomfortably full before the test, tell the staff immediately. We can start the test sooner.

When will I get results?

Your doctor will review the results with you at your follow-up appointment, typically within 1-2 weeks.

Who Needs This Test?

Your doctor may recommend UroCuff testing if you have:

Obstructive Symptoms

  • Weak stream
  • Hesitancy (difficulty starting)
  • Intermittency (stop-start flow)
  • Straining to urinate
  • Prolonged voiding time

Irritative Symptoms

  • Frequency (urinating often)
  • Urgency (sudden strong urge)
  • Nocturia (waking at night)
  • Incomplete emptying feeling

When it's especially useful:

  • Before deciding on BPH surgery
  • When symptoms don't match physical exam
  • After failed medical treatment
  • To distinguish obstruction from weak bladder
  • Planning which BPH procedure is best for you

How Results Guide Your Treatment

Based on your UroCuff results, your doctor can:

If Results Show Obstruction (High Pressure, Low Flow)

Treatment options include:

  • TURP (transurethral resection of prostate)
  • Urolift (prostatic urethral lift)
  • Aquablation (robotic water jet therapy)
  • Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE)
  • GreenLight laser
  • Rezum (steam therapy)

Surgery likely to be effective

If Results Show Weak Bladder (Low Pressure, Low Flow)

Treatment approach:

  • Surgery would NOT help
  • Focus on medical management
  • Bladder retraining
  • Timed voiding
  • Medications to improve contractility
  • Clean intermittent catheterization if needed

Avoiding unnecessary surgery saves you from complications without benefit

If Results Show Normal Function

Alternative diagnoses to consider:

  • Overactive bladder (treat with medications)
  • Behavioral factors
  • Fluid intake patterns
  • Medications causing symptoms

Guides toward non-surgical treatments

The Science Behind UroCuff®

Traditional pressure-flow studies require a urethral catheter, which:

  • Causes discomfort
  • May artificially obstruct flow
  • Makes voiding pattern unnatural
  • Carries small infection risk

The UroCuff® innovation: By measuring pressure externally at the urethral meatus (opening), it captures the same critical pressure data WITHOUT a catheter, giving your doctor the information needed while you void naturally.

Clinical validation: UroCuff has been studied and validated in peer-reviewed urology literature, showing excellent correlation with traditional invasive studies.

What to Do If You Have Questions

Before your test:

  • 📞 Call our office: 678-344-8900
  • ⏰ Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • 💬 Ask for urology nurse or technician

Day of your test:

  • Arrive 10 minutes early to check in
  • Inform staff if you're uncomfortable or need to void urgently
  • Ask the technician any questions before starting

✅ Final Checklist

Before you leave for your appointment, confirm:

  • ☐ Drank 32 oz water 1 hour before
  • ☐ Have NOT emptied bladder
  • ☐ Feel comfortably full/moderate urge
  • ☐ Bringing medication list
  • ☐ Wearing comfortable clothing