Urinary Incontinence: Keeping a Daily Record

Overview

Keeping a daily record can help you and your doctor find the best treatment for urinary incontinence.

Keep a record of what you drink and all urine released, whether voluntary or involuntary. Your doctor may call this a voiding diary or bladder record. This may be a 24-hour diary or one that covers several days.

Record in your diary:

• The time and amount of each urination. (You'll need a measuring container to collect and measure the amount of urine.)
• The conditions under which urine release occurred, such as voluntary urination in the toilet, involuntary urine release, or leakage due to sneezing, laughing, or physical exertion.
• The amounts and types of all liquids consumed. This includes frozen liquid items such as ice cream and frozen fruit juice bars.
• Whether the liquid consumed contained caffeine (if your doctor asks you to specify this information).

You can find information about a bladder diary or voiding diary online. Or your doctor's office may have one available.

When to keep a daily record

A diary is sometimes requested before you see a doctor about urinary incontinence.

You may be asked to keep a voiding log when:

• You experience the involuntary release of urine.
• No cause for the incontinence is discovered in the medical history and physical exam.
• You are not sure of the frequency and amount of urine leakage.