Overactive Bladder (OAB)

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a condition that causes you to pee more frequently, have uncontrollable urges to pee, experience incontinence and have to pee at night. It is estimated to affect more than 40% of women.

Symptoms of OAB include:

• Urinary urgency, a sudden, uncontrollable need to pee.

• Frequent peeing. or going to the bathroom more often than usual.

• Urge incontinence, a sudden, uncontrollable need to pee and leaking pee.

• Nocturia, the need to get up to pee at least two times each night.

Talk with your doctor if you are experiencing these symptoms.

What causes overactive bladder?

Overactive bladder can be caused by:

• Abdominal trauma, such as pregnancy and childbirth

• Neurogenic bladder, or nerve damage caused by pelvic or back surgery, herniated discs, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, diabetes or stroke

• Medications, alcohol and caffeine

• Infection, such as a urinary tract infection

• Being overweight

• Estrogen deficiency after menopause

How is overactive bladder diagnosed?

Your physician can diagnose OAB. It can be diagnosed by:

• Physical exam

• Urine sample

• Measuring bladder function

• Cystometry test to measure pressure in your bladder

How is overactive bladder treated?

There is no cure for OAB, however, there are effective ways to manage OAB. Be sure to seek treatment for OAB because symptoms can worsen if left untreated. Over time, the muscles in your bladder that help control when you pee can become weak and your pelvic floor tissues can get thinner.

• Behavioral techniques such as bladder training, scheduled toilet trips, double voiding, and fluid and diet management. You may also be asked to keep a bladder diary to keep track of how much you drink, what you consume and how often you pee.

• Pelvic floor physical therapy

• Prescription medications

• Insertion of a medical device for incontinence, such as a pessary or a urethral insert

• Injections to keep the urethra closed

• Nerve stimulators

• Botox injections into the bladder

• Minimally invasive procedures, including:

  • Bulking material injections, which help to increase closure in the urethra and build thickness in the urethral wall so it seals properly

  • Sacral nerve stimulators which help to stimulate pelvic nerves to improve bladder function.

• Minimally invasive surgery, including:

  • Sling procedures, which use strips of your body’s tissue, synthetic material or mesh to create a pelvic sling or hammock around your bladder neck and urethra to lift them back into a normal position to help keep the urethra closed, especially when you cough or sneeze. There are many types of slings, including tension-free, adjustable and conventional.

  • Bladder neck suspension, a procedure that uses a suturing technique to help provide support to your urethra and bladder neck, which helps to alleviate the symptoms of stress urinary incontinence.