What Is Overactive Bladder?

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a condition that affects how your bladder stores urine. People with OAB feel a sudden and strong urge to urinate that is hard to control. Some may also leak urine before reaching the toilet. This condition is not caused by infection or another disease, and it can affect both men and women.

The main symptoms of overactive bladder include:

  • Urgency: A sudden, intense need to urinate
  • Frequency: Needing to urinate more than 8 times in a 24-hour period
  • Nocturia: Waking up more than once at night to urinate
  • Urge incontinence: Leaking urine after feeling a strong need to go

OAB is more common in older adults, but it is not a normal part of aging. It can also affect younger people and may interfere with daily life, travel, sleep, and social activities. Many people feel embarrassed or avoid talking about it, which can delay treatment.

The cause of OAB is often linked to the way the bladder muscles behave. Normally, the bladder fills and stores urine until you are ready to urinate. In OAB, the bladder muscles contract too early or too often, even when the bladder is not full. This leads to the urgent feeling of needing to urinate.

In women, hormonal changes during menopause, childbirth, or pelvic floor problems may increase the risk. In men, an enlarged prostate can lead to OAB-like symptoms. Other factors include obesity, nerve damage, or diabetes.

Diagnosis is based on the symptoms, a urine test to rule out infection, and sometimes a bladder diary to track how often you go. A urologist may recommend further tests if needed.

Treatment options include bladder training, pelvic floor exercises, limiting caffeine and alcohol, and medications that calm the bladder muscle. In some cases, nerve stimulation therapy or injections into the bladder may help.

Overactive bladder can often be managed successfully with the right treatment plan.

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