Urinary incontinence has usually been assessed in the laboratory and no previous attempt has been made to measure the degree and extent of restrictions which are imposed on the individual. A scale was developed to measure the effect of being incontinent. This scale was derived from a questionnaire administered to women attending a urodynamic clinic. In these patients, all of whom had established urinary incontinence, the major problems encountered were in social and mental well-being, including sexual difficulties and embarrassment. The degree of incontinence did not co-relate with the degree of disability.