How to Manage Your Overactive Bladder

Do you feel like you always need to go? Unable to get out the house for fear of always needing the restroom?

You are one of many. More than 33 million Americans suffer from overactive bladder. Overactive bladder (OAB) is a common condition that can affect up to roughly 40% of women in their lifetime. OAB can lead to urinary incontinence - the loss of bladder control, obviously an embarrassing problem.

Those with OAB, also called urge incontinence, experience a sudden, strong urge to urinate during the day and night; they may also leak urine before getting to the restroom.

OAB results in someone needing to urinate more than the usual 7 to 8 times per 24 hours. Therefore, OAB usually consist of four symptoms:

• an urgent need to urinate
• a need to urinate more frequently than normal
• waking from sleep to urinate
• urgency incontinence (urine leakage).

OAB is not due to effects from a urinary tract infection or from a neurologic condition such as multiple sclerosis, and your doctor should rule this out.

Is Overactive Bladder (OAB) the Same as Stress Incontinence?

No. Stress incontinence occurs when pelvic muscles, located beneath the bladder, are not strong enough. These muscles cannot handle any pressure being exerted on the bladder, and this leads to urine leaking.

Stress incontinence may occur when someone is sneezing, lifting heavy items, laughing, or coughing.

Pregnancy and after childbirth is also a time when stress incontinence may be bothersome, and it may continue to be a problem long after childbirth.

Urge incontinence is another name for overactive bladder (OAB). Stress incontinence and OAB can also occur together, known as mixed incontinence.

Other types of incontinence include overflow incontinence and functional incontinenc.

How Will I Know if a Urinary Tract Infection is Causing My Symptoms?

Leaking of urine, whether a small or large amount of urine, is the main symptom of incontinence due to overactive bladder (OAB).

OAB can also lead to leakage during sleep. Urine leakage due to a urinary tract infection(UTI) is usually a short-term problem, but visit your doctor as you may need an antibiotic.

If urine leakage is accompanied by the following symptoms, you may have a UTI:

• Pain or a burning sensation during urination.
• Fever
• Pink or red urine discoloration
• A strong urine odor or cloudy urine
• Stomach or back pain
• Frequent urination

How is an Overactive Bladder Diagnosed?

If you are experiencing overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms, and especially if they interfere with your normal routines like sleep, work or leisure time, see your doctor.

Leaking urine at any age is not normal. Do not feel ashamed or embarrassed to mention these symptoms to your doctor; OAB is a common condition for which many women seek treatment. You will not be the first.

What happens during my doctor visit for overactive bladder?

• Your medical history will be reviewed
• You may be asked to keep a voiding dairy for a few days
• A neurologic and pelvic exam will be done
• Your doctor may check your urine for signs of a urinary tract infection (UTI).
• Depending upon your results, imaging tests like a CT or MRI may be needed to determine if your OAB is due to a nerve injury.