Urination diary/
bladder log
A urination diary, also known as a bladder log, is an important diagnostic tool in urology and urogynecology, which is used in particular to assess urinary incontinence and other bladder dysfunctions. It helps doctors to obtain a detailed picture of the patient’s urination pattern and to better assess the severity of symptoms. This information is essential in order to understand the causes of the symptoms and to plan effective treatment. The log is used, for example, in patients with neurogenic bladder (neurogenic detrusor overactivity, NDO) and in people with stress incontinence who have limited control over bladder emptying.
The urination diary is a patient-managed document in which every urination, i.e. each voiding of the bladder, is recorded over a certain period of time with the time and urine volume. The amount drunk, the frequency of incontinence episodes and the degree of urge to urinate are also documented. These records provide the attending physician with valuable insights into the patient’s daytime and nocturnal urination pattern and bladder capacity.
As a rule, patients are advised to keep a diary for three to seven days. During this time, patients record each urination with the exact time and they measure the volume of urine passed. In addition, they record the amount of fluid drunk and special incidents such as incontinence events or the feeling of incomplete bladder emptying.
In patients with neurogenic detrusor overactivity, the diary is often kept for a shorter period of two to three days in order to document the specific problems of this condition, such as the severity of the urge to urinate and the number of incontinence episodes. This helps to objectively assess possible overestimation of urination frequency by the patient.
The accuracy and completeness of the entries play a decisive role in the diagnostic value of the urination diary. Careful documentation enables a comprehensive analysis of bladder function and is an essential basis for further medical care.
Summary
Keeping a urination diary provides an objective basis for the diagnosis and monitoring of bladder dysfunction and is therefore a central component of urological diagnostics. It demands a certain amount of discipline and precision from patients, but in return provides valuable assistance for treatment planning.