This common condition affects at least 40% of women in the United States.
What is an overactive bladder?
Overactive bladder (OAB) is a quality of life health issue. The most common
symptom is the sudden uncontrolled need or urge to urinate. Though women
(particularly after menopause) are more likely to experience OAB, men
can also experience overactive bladder.
Symptoms can vary from person to person, but commonly include:
Urgent, uncontrollable need to urinate
Frequent involuntary loss of urine
Frequent urination (more than 8 times in a 24-hour period)
Waking up more than once a night to use the bathroom
OAB can impact women’s mental health
Living with OAB can cause you to feel depressed, guilty, and tired from
not sleeping well. Because OAB can be unpredictable, it can cause some
women to limit social activities, miss work, or struggle with personal
relationships.
If you have OAB, it’s important to know that you are not alone: at
least 40% of women in the United States experience symptoms of overactive
bladder—and many more cases may go unreported.
What causes OAB?
While the exact cause is unknown, the risk of developing OAB increases
with age. It typically has to do with your urinary tract health.
Different factors can lead to symptoms of OAB, including:
Drinking too much fluid
Taking certain medications that increase urine production
Urinary tract infections
Excessive caffeine and alcohol consumption
Not completely emptying bladder when urinating
Bladder conditions, including bladder stones
Treating an overactive bladder
The following list includes some common treatment options for an overactive
bladder. Oftentimes, treatment includes a mix of medicine, lifestyle changes,
and bladder training.
Medicine: Medications are often the first suggested treatment for an overactive
bladder. They help relax bladder muscles and reduce contractions. Examples
include anticholinergics (oxybutynin, tolterodine, and trospium) and beta-3
agonists (mirabegron). Your provider will prescribe the best medication
for you based on your symptoms and medical history.
Bladder training: It’s possible to retrain the bladder to hold urine for a longer
period. Bladder training involves scheduling regular bathroom breaks and
slowly adding time between each break. A pelvic floor physical therapist
can help with bladder training.
Lifestyle changes: Some changes to your routine may help with overactive bladder symptoms:
Avoid caffeine and alcohol.
Drink enough water, but space out how much you drink throughout the day.
Keep a healthy weight since extra weight can put pressure on the bladder.
Do pelvic floor exercises (Kegels) to help strengthen the muscles that
control urination.
Wear absorbent pads or underwear to manage
incontinence.
Nerve stimulation: Nerve stimulation may help women who don’t respond to medications
or bladder training. Examples include percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation
(PTNS) or sacral neuromodulation. These techniques send electrical impulses
to the nerves that control how the bladder works.
Neuromodulators: Injections with botulinum toxin (also known as Botox, Dysport, Xeomin,
or Jeuveau) can help with overactive bladder symptoms. They help relax
the bladder muscle and reduce contractions.
It’s important to work with your provider to find the best treatment
plan for your specific overactive bladder symptoms. At West Jefferson
Medical Center,
our urology team is here to help.
