Diagnosis & Treatment

Diagnosing an overactive bladder Treatment options for an overactive bladder Voiding Diary

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The Overactive Bladder

Normally, muscles around the bladder contract and relax according to the volume of urine in the bladder and the initiation of urination. In people with overactive bladders, the detrusor muscle contracts spastically, sometimes without a known cause, which results in sustained, high bladder pressure.

People with the condition typically experience the urgent need to urinate at inconvenient times and may lose control before reaching a toilet. Overactive bladder interferes with work, daily routine, and intimacy; causes embarrassment; and may diminish self-esteem and quality of life.

Overactive bladder affects men and women equally. Approximately 20 million people in the United States suffer from the condition. Though it is not necessarily a part of aging, it most often affects older people.

Causes
Malfunctioning detrusor muscle in the smooth muscle of the bladder causes overactive bladder. Identifiable underlying causes include the following:

• Abdominal or pelvic trauma or surgery resulting in nerve damage
• Bladder stones
• Drug side effects
• Neurological disease (e.g., multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, stroke, spinal cord lesions)

Other conditions can produce symptoms similar to those experienced with overactive bladder, the most common of which is urinary tract infection (UTI) in women.

Symptoms
Three symptoms are associated with an overactive bladder:

• Frequency—frequent urination
• Urgency—urgent need to urinate
• Urge incontinence—strong need to urinate followed by leaking or involuntary and complete voiding