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Overactive Bladder
Treatment

What is Overactive Bladder?

Overactive bladder is a common condition causing a sudden urge to urinate, which results from problems with the function of bladder-storage. This can lead to the involuntary loss of urine (incontinence).

Causes:

Overactive bladder occurs when muscles in the bladder contract involuntarily, even if the bladder may not be full. A detrusor muscle squeezes suddenly, erratically and involuntarily, and more often than normal. Instead of sending warning signals that the bladder will soon need to be emptied, the detrusor muscle gets an incorrect signal from the brain and contracts immediately, creating the urgent need to urinate.
With nearly 200,000 U.S. cases per year. Approximately 46 million American adults over the age of 40 have reported symptoms of overactive bladder. Overactive bladder can affect men or women, and people of all ages. However, it is most likely to occur in women.

Factors that put you at risk:

  • Advancing age
  • Pregnancy and childbirth
  • Multiple medications
  • Disease of the nervous system
  • Prior pelvic surgery
  • Prior pelvic radiation
  • Urinary tract infection
  • Bladder cancer
  • Weight
  • Certain occupations

Symptoms:

There are four symptoms of overactive bladder

  • Urgency – a sudden and overwhelming need to urinate immediately
  • Frequency – urinating more than 8 times a day. Normal frequency is around 4 to 6 times per day, or every 3 to 5 hours
  • Urge incontinence – urine leakage and accidents that happen after a sudden urge. The leakage can be a few drops or the full bladder
  • Nocturia – waking up during the night to urinate. Most people can sleep 6 to 8 hours before they need to urinate

Triggers:

Activities that can trigger leaky bladder:

  • The sound of running water
  • Seeing a bathroom
  • Placing feet on the floor when getting out of bed
  • Stressful situations
  • Exposure to cold

How We Can Help:

At Foothills Urogynecology we are prepared to discuss your concerns and work together to develop a customized treatment plan that works for you and your needs. We have extensive experience in diagnosing issues and developing solutions using everything from behavior modification methods, drug therapy, Medtronic bowel control therapy and holistic therapies. Our treatment options can significantly improve your quality of life, and they have a proven track record of helping to control or greatly reduce accidents.