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Urinary Incontinence: Keeping a Daily Record
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 daily diary of all liquids taken in and all urine released, whether voluntary or involuntary. Your health professional may also call this a voiding log, bladder record, frequency-volume chart, incontinence chart, or voiding diary. The diary is usually kept for 3 to 4 days.
Record in your diary:
- The time and amount of each urination.
- 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 health professional instructs you to specify this information).
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.
Current as of: October 18, 2021
Author:
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine & Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine & Avery L. Seifert MD - Urology
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.
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Related Links
Urinary Incontinence in Men
Urinary Incontinence in Women
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