The UroCuff test — what it is and why we do it.

Why we order a UroCuff

When a man has urinary symptoms — weak stream, needing to push, waking up multiple times at night, incomplete emptying — the question is always: is the problem the prostate blocking the flow, or is it the bladder muscle not working well? Those two problems look similar on the surface but are treated very differently.

UroCuff answers that question. It measures the pressure your bladder generates when you urinate and correlates it with flow rate. High pressure plus low flow means obstruction (surgery is likely to help). Low pressure plus low flow means a weak bladder (surgery may not help, and could make things worse).

This is especially important before considering a prostate procedure like HoLEP, Rezūm, or UroLift — because we want to make sure we're treating the real cause of your symptoms.

How it's different from traditional urodynamics

Traditional urodynamic testing is the older, more involved way of answering the same question. It requires placing a small catheter into the bladder and another into the rectum, then slowly filling the bladder and measuring pressures. It's highly accurate but also uncomfortable, time-consuming, and involves an increased risk of UTI.

UroCuff gives us most of the clinically important information with none of the catheters. For the majority of men being evaluated for BPH, UroCuff is sufficient to make a treatment decision. Traditional urodynamics remains an option for more complex cases.

What happens during the test

Before

• Arrive with a comfortably full (but not painful) bladder. Our office will usually ask you to drink 16–24 ounces of water about 30–45 minutes before the appointment.
• No fasting required. No medication changes.

During (about 10–15 minutes)

• You urinate into a specialized toilet (uroflow chair) while a small inflatable cuff sits around the penis.
• The cuff automatically inflates and deflates in rhythm with your stream, measuring the pressure your bladder is generating.
• There's no pain. The cuff feels similar to a blood pressure cuff on your arm.
• Afterward, we use a bladder scanner (just ultrasound on the belly) to see how much urine was left behind.

After

• Get dressed, drive home, resume normal activities immediately.
• Dr. Childs reviews the tracing and discusses the results with you — either at the same visit or at a planned follow-up.

What the results mean

Your UroCuff report shows a tracing with two numbers that matter most:

• Flow rate: how fast your urine comes out. Below 10 ml/sec is suggestive of obstruction.
• Estimated pressure: how hard your bladder is working to get urine out. High pressure + slow flow = obstructed.

Combined with your symptom assessment and post-void residual, this gives Dr. Childs a clear picture of whether a prostate procedure is likely to help you — and if so, which one.

Common questions

Does insurance cover it?

Most Utah insurance plans cover UroCuff when it's clinically indicated. Our office verifies your benefits before the appointment and will let you know your expected out-of-pocket cost.

Is this the same as a urodynamic study?

UroCuff is a type of non-invasive urodynamic study. Traditional urodynamics (catheter-based) is more comprehensive but also more invasive. For most BPH evaluations, UroCuff is the test we prefer.

Will I need a UroCuff before surgery?

Not always, but often. For patients considering HoLEP or other prostate procedures, confirming obstruction with an objective test protects you from having a surgery that might not help your symptoms.