More than a third of Americans suffer from overactive bladder (OAB), a chronic condition that causes frequent, irresistible urges to urinate, along with embarrassing urine leakage.
But although OAB is common, many people never seek treatment, likely because they think it’s a natural part of aging or because they don’t know that treatments are available.
At the Center for Urogynecology and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery, OB/GYN Rafael J. Perez, MD, FACOG, provides OAB treatment options using the most advanced, evidence-based therapies tailored to each patient’s symptoms and needs.
In this post, Dr. Perez and our team discuss the basics of OAB as well as the treatment options.
OAB differs from another type of incontinence called stress incontinence, a condition associated with urine leakage when you sneeze, laugh, cough, or participate in strenuous activities.
Instead, OAB can — and does — happen at any time, regardless of activity, interfering with simple activities at work, at home, and when socializing with others.
A frequent need to urinate is the hallmark symptom of OAB. People with OAB may find themselves needing to urinate every few hours — even while they sleep. The urge to urinate is very strong, increasing the risk of bladder leakage (incontinence).
The frequent, strong urges associated with OAB happen when the nerves that control bladder activity are irritated or overstimulated, triggering the need to urinate even when the bladder doesn’t contain a lot of urine.
This unusual nerve activity can happen for lots of reasons, including:
Often, the cause of OAB isn’t known, but fortunately, it can still be treated.
Sometimes, OAB symptoms can be relieved with lifestyle changes. For instance, losing extra weight can decrease pressure on your bladder, and cutting back on caffeine and alcohol can help decrease your need to urinate, too.
Some people benefit from pelvic floor exercises or physical therapy focused on strengthening the muscles that support the bladder. Bladder training — gradually increasing the time between bathroom trips — may be helpful in some mild cases of OAB, especially when combined with other therapies.
We may recommend medications to help relax bladder muscles and prevent spasms that can lead to urgency and leakage. Injections of Botox® may temporarily stop muscle contractions associated with OAB, relieving symptoms and giving your bladder a chance to heal.
For more severe OAB or when conservative approaches don’t help, surgery offers a long-term solution. OAB surgery repairs and restores support to your bladder and the muscles surrounding it.
Our team is skilled in both traditional surgery and innovative techniques using the robot-assisted da Vinci® surgical system.
Don’t let an overactive bladder interfere with your life and your health. To learn how we can help, call our office to request an appointment with Dr. Perez and our team at the Center for Urogynecology and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery in South Miami, Florida, today.
