Overactive Bladder

What is an overactive bladder?

“Overactive bladder” is an umbrella term for a group of urinary symptoms. It’s characterized by a sudden urge to urinate and sometimes leaking urine. It causes the urge to urinate often during the day and throughout the night. Treatment at Mission City Urology can help you avoid debilitating symptoms and dramatically restore your quality of life.

What symptoms does an overactive bladder cause?

An overactive bladder can cause:

• Frequent urination (eight or more times in 24 hours)
• Waking up at least twice per night to urinate
• Leaking urine
• Not making it to the bathroom in time
• Disrupted sleep
• Depression, anxiety, or self-consciousness

An overactive bladder might diminish your ability (or desire) to participate in everyday activities, including work, social gatherings, and physical recreation.

What are the risk factors for an overactive bladder?

The following factors can increase your risk of an overactive bladder:

• Aging
• Hormone changes
• Pelvic muscle spasms or weakness
• Neurological disorders
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Some medications
• Stroke
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Diseases affecting the spinal cord or brain
• Bladder stones
• Tumors
• Diabetes
• Constipation
• Previous surgery
• Enlarged prostate in men
• Excessive alcohol or caffeine
• Cognitive decline
• Being female

However, the exact cause isn’t always apparent.

How is an overactive bladder diagnosed?

Dr. Satsangi discusses your medical history, reviews your symptoms, and completes a physical exam to determine if you have an overactive bladder and what might be causing it. He also evaluates your pelvis, rectum, and abdomen.

Dr. Satsangi might ask you to keep a bladder diary and order urine tests, a bladder scan, a cystoscopy using a thin lighted tube, bladder function testing, or other diagnostic procedures.

How is an overactive bladder treated?

Your overactive bladder treatment can include:

• Medication
• Nerve stimulation
• Bladder training
• Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS)
• Axonics® therapy
• InterStim™
• Bladder Botox®
• Surgery
• Behavioral therapy
• Biofeedback
• Kegel exercises
• Constipation management
• Lifestyle changes

Lifestyle changes to consider include altering your eating and drinking habits, exercising regularly, limiting caffeine and alcohol, not smoking, maintaining an ideal weight, emptying your bladder twice each time you urinate (double voiding), and preplanning bathroom visits to avoid embarrassing leaks. It’s also helpful to manage diabetes and other chronic diseases.

Schedule an overactive bladder evaluation today with Dr. Satsangi at Mission City Urology by calling the office or requesting an appointment online.