What Is Overactive Bladder Syndrome?

Overactive bladder syndrome is a set of symptoms that are caused by bladder muscles contracting too often or too hard.

When the bladder contracts, it’s called a “bladder contraction”.

A person with overactive bladder syndrome has uncontrolled contractions, which cause urine leakage and other uncomfortable symptoms.

What are the signs of overactive bladder syndrome?

People with overactive bladder syndrome may feel like they always need to urinate (pee), even if their bladder is not full. Some people lose urine (pee) when their bladder contracts, even though they don’t mean for this to happen.

For example, some people may leak a small amount of urine while coughing or sneezing.

They may also leak urine when they exercise, cough, laugh, lift something heavy, or sit down for a long time.

People with overactive bladder syndrome may feel like their bladder is not empty even after urinating (peeing).

If the condition is not treated, problems with day-to-day life can develop:

This could include urinary tract infections, bladder stones, and kidney damage.

What causes overactive bladder syndrome?

Overactive bladder syndrome happens when the muscles in the wall of the bladder (the detrusor muscle) contract uncontrollably. This squeezes urine out of the bladder and into the urethra. The nerves that help control the muscles of the bladder are damaged in some people.

Most cases of overactive bladder occur because of damage to the nerves that affect the bladder or because of a past infection. The cause is not well understood.

However, many things may increase your chances for developing it, including:

• Urinary tract infections
• Taking certain medications
• Being overweight or obese
• Having a stroke or heart disease
• Having Parkinson’s disease
• Diabetes

What is the difference between urinary incontinence (UI) and overactive bladder syndrome (OAB)?

The difference between urinary incontinence and overactive bladder syndrome is that urinary incontinence may be caused by a problem with the muscles of the urethra and bladder, which hold and release urine.

When these muscles do not work correctly, it can lead to leakage of urine. Overactive bladder syndrome is caused by uncontrolled contractions of the bladder, which can result in leakage of urine.

How common is overactive bladder syndrome?

Overactive bladder syndrome is very common and may affect more than  33 million adult Americans (1)

It’s most often seen in people between the ages of 30-60 years old. It’s also more common in women than men.

As the body ages, it becomes more likely for an overactive bladder to develop. Women who have both an overactive bladder and diabetes have a greater chance of having a severe case of OAB compared to women without diabetes.

What are the complications associated with overactive bladder syndrome?

There are many health problems associated with overactive bladder syndrome. These include urinary tract infections, injuries to the urethra, kidney damage, and bladder stones.

How is overactive bladder syndrome diagnosed?

The doctor will do an exam to diagnose overactive bladder syndrome. The doctor will ask about symptoms, medical history, activities that may cause the symptoms, and family history.

During the exam, the doctor will check the abdomen, genitals, and pelvic area for anything unusual. The doctor may also check to see if the bladder is full of urine.

The doctor will remove a sample of urine (urine test) to look for infection or other problems that could be causing the symptoms.

The doctor may refer you to a urologist, who specializes in the urinary tract. The urologist may do further testing, including:

Urodynamics: This test measures how well your bladder stores and empties urine. An instrument called a cystometer makes this test possible. It is inserted into the bladder through the urethra.

Cystoscopy: This test allows doctors to see inside the bladder and urethra. It is done with a thin, lighted tube (called a cystoscope) that goes in through the urethra. This test may help to find out what’s causing urinary leakage.

Upper tract imaging: An X-ray or other imaging test of your kidneys and ureters (tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder) can help doctors find out if there are any problems with these organs.

Urinalysis: This test is done to see if there are any urinary tract problems, such as infection or kidney stones.

Electromyogram (EMG): This test checks how well your bladder muscles are working. During the test, a doctor inserts a thin needle into the pelvis and then into the bladder. It detects electrical signals from your muscles to find out how strong the contractions are.

Imaging tests may also be done if there is an infection, stones, or tumors in your urinary tract.