Overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome is a condition that causes a sudden urge to pee during the day or at night, or a need to urinate more frequently. It can result in accidental urine leakage, called incontinence.
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Overactive bladder (OAB) is a term for a larger set of urinary-related symptoms rather than one distinct disease.
Doctors define overactive bladder as a sudden urge to urinate several times throughout the day and night. This urgency can lead to urinary leakage (incontinence). While this condition isn't serious, it can lead to moments of inconvenience, embarrassment, and even urinary tract infections (UTIs).
OAB syndrome becomes more common as you age. Symptoms often become more severe the older you get, too.
Although symptoms of OAB can often be managed, many people suffer in silence. Even if you're embarrassed about your condition, it's important to share your symptoms with your doctor.
Overactive bladder is a common chronic medical condition. The National Overactive Bladder Evaluation Programs’ research showed that some 33 million Americans might be living with overactive bladder issues.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates that up to 16.5% of Americans have OAB symptoms affecting their daily activities.
In many cases, doctors don't know what causes OAB.
But overactive bladder can be a result of:
Talk with your doctor about whether your medication regimen could be affecting your bladder. But don't stop taking any medications without consulting your doctor first.
You may be at risk of OAB because of:
Left untreated, OAB can affect you physically and emotionally. It may get in the way of work, social life, exercise, and sleep.
Fear of being far from a bathroom or leaking pee can make you reluctant to go far from home. This social isolation can affect relationships with friends and family, bringing about feelings of loneliness and depression.
In addition, getting up multiple times a night can disrupt your sleep and sex life. Too little sleep can also contribute to depression.
Physically, if you leak urine, you may develop skin problems or infections.
Many things can cause overactive bladder, and some treatments can also prevent it.
To lower your risk of an overactive bladder, you can:
The main symptoms of overactive bladder are:
If you have overactive bladder, you may have some or all of these symptoms.
Your primary care provider can diagnose overactive bladder but they may refer you to a urologist, gynecologist, or urogynecologist for more specialized care.
Your doctor will ask you about your health history, the symptoms you're having, and prescribed and over-the-counter (OTC) medications and supplements you take.
They may also perform a physical exam. Depending on your symptoms, you might need a pelvic exam. If your symptoms could be caused by colorectal problems, you might also need a rectal exam.
Before your visit, it can helpful to track:
Your doctor might take a sample of your urine. Depending on the results, or if your doctor thinks that your problem may have more than one cause, you may have more tests. For example, an ultrasound will show how much urine is left in your bladder after using the bathroom.
The first step in treating your overactive bladder might be simply planning your routine around your condition. For example, you can take the appropriate preventive steps and also not drink fluids before bed. You might clear a path from your bed to the bathroom or place a portable toilet in your bedroom.
While these measures won't cure OAB, they can make it easier to live with this condition.
There are medications that can help treat OAB. This includes topical estrogen if atrophy (thinning of vaginal tissue) is a problem.
If your symptoms really bother you or affect your quality of life, your doctor might suggest that you try certain medicines along with bladder training exercises.
These medicines include:
Some cases of overactive bladder syndrome may require surgery.
These surgeries aim to correct an issue, such as:
For severe overactive bladder or severe urge incontinence that hasn’t been controlled by exercises or medicine, there are other treatments.
You may need to get Botox bladder injections every three to 12 months. Side effects may include having pain when you pee, not being able to urinate easily, and getting a urinary tract infection (UTI).
Last reviewed by a UPMC medical professional on 2024-09-05.
