To check for the causes of your lower urinary tract symptoms, your healthcare provider might have you do different tests.

• Urinalysis: A test where you provide a sample of your pee. The sample is checked for things like infection, blood, or other things that could be causing problems with your bladder or kidneys.
• Blood test: A blood test to check your creatinine will help your healthcare team see how well your kidneys are working to filter waste.
• Kidney and bladder ultrasound with post-void residual measurement: Not everyone will need an ultrasound. If your healthcare team recommends an ultrasound, the clinic where you do the ultrasound will give you instructions, like needing a full bladder for the test. Follow these instructions so that the test can be completed when you are there. An ultrasound with a post-void residual measurement means you will get a scan of your full bladder to see how much urine is in it. Then, you will be asked to go to the bathroom to empty your bladder as much as you can. Your bladder will then be scanned again to see how much urine you passed and how much urine remains in your bladder.

If the cause of your symptoms is still unclear after you have these tests, you may need more tests.