What is overactive bladder?

An overactive bladder (OAB) is characterized by feeling a strong urge to urinate or leaking a small amount of urine. With an overactive bladder, you also might need to go to the bathroom more frequently or feel an urgent need even when your bladder is not full.

Overactive bladder is very common, affecting millions of men and women in the United States. It can interfere with your daily life, interrupt your sleep, and impact your relationships and mental health.

There is a range of treatments available to improve and manage symptoms of an overactive bladder. Your doctor will work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan that helps restore your quality of life.

women enjoying a peaceful ride on he train after receiving treatment for her overactive bladder

Overactive bladder symptoms

The main symptom of an overactive bladder is feeling a strong urge to urinate that often comes on suddenly and does not go away. You might feel that you need to find a bathroom right away and could leak a small amount of urine if you do not get there quickly enough.

Other common symptoms of an OAB include:

  • Urge incontinence: Leaking urine after feeling a sudden urge
  • Frequent urination: Urinating eight or more times during the day
  • Nocturia: Waking two or more times to go to the bathroom at night

When to see a doctor

See your doctor if your bladder symptoms affect your ability to work or go about your daily life. Your primary care provider or OBGYN might refer you to a urologist or urogynecologist, a doctor who specializes in female urinary disorders.

What causes overactive bladder?

Normally, your bladder muscles relax as it fills, and nerve signals between your bladder and brain tell the muscles when to contract and push out urine. With an overactive bladder, the muscles contract involuntarily, which makes you feel like you have to use the bathroom immediately, even if there isn’t much urine in your bladder.

Doctors can’t always identify the cause of an overactive bladder, but many things can disrupt the signaling between your bladder and brain or cause bladder muscles to contract when they shouldn’t. They include problems with how your bladder and bowel empty, your lifestyle, conditions or injuries that damage nerves and hormonal changes related to menopause.

Overactive bladder risk factors

Overactive bladder is more common among older women who have gone through menopause. Other factors, including disease, injury or vaginal childbirth, can also put you more at risk. Your lifestyle can also affect your bladder.

Risk factors for OAB include:

  • Age: Your chances increase with age. About 30% of women over 75 experience overactive bladder symptoms.
  • Being overweight or obese: A high body mass index (BMI) is linked with a greater chance of having an overactive bladder.
  • Diabetes: Diabetes can damage nerves in your urinary tract and high glucose in the urine can increase urinary frequency.
  • Heavy metal exposure: Heavy metals can damage your nerves.
  • Prostate issues: An enlarged prostate in men can put pressure on your bladder.
  • Sex: Women are more likely to have the condition than men.
  • Neurological conditions: Strokes, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis can affect your bladder muscles and nerves.
  • Pregnancy and vaginal childbirth: Pregnancy and childbirth can weaken pelvic floor muscles that support your bladder.
  • Spinal cord or brain injuries: These can affect the nerves controlling your bladder and the signals it sends to your brain.

Complications of overactive bladder

An overactive bladder can affect your health, work and social life. Many people find it embarrassing to talk about, and it can affect your relationships and lead to feelings of social isolation. If not treated, OAB can lead to further medical issues, such as infection and skin irritation.

  • Depression and anxiety: Bladder problems can take a toll on your mental health.
  • Interrupted sleep: A constant need to use the bathroom at night can disturb your sleep, causing fatigue, reduced energy and other health problems.
  • Reduced physical activity: Being active is important for overall health, but some people find running, brisk walking or other exercise can lead to leaks.
  • Skin irritation: Leaking urine can cause skin rash and irritation.

How is an overactive bladder diagnosed?

If you're having frequent or sudden urges to pee, leaking urine or waking up often at night to go, your doctor may check for an overactive bladder. Diagnosis usually starts with a conversation about your symptoms, a physical exam and a few simple tests. These help rule out other possible causes and guide the best treatment for you.

Overactive bladder treatment

If you’re living with overactive bladder, treatment can help reduce sudden urges, frequent trips to the bathroom and leakage. Your doctor will likely start with the most conservative approaches first and move to other options if symptoms don’t improve.

Lifestyle changes

Many people find relief by making a few adjustments to their daily habits. These changes can help calm your bladder, improve control and reduce urgency.

  • Changing your diet: Some foods and drinks can irritate the bladder and make symptoms worse. These may include caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, citrus, artificial sweeteners and carbonated drinks. Avoiding or cutting back on these can help
  • Bladder training: This involves gradually increasing the time between bathroom visits to help your bladder hold more urine. It may also include scheduled bathroom trips, even if you don’t feel the urge to go
  • Maintaining bowel regularity: Constipation can put extra pressure on your bladder, which can make symptoms worse. Eating more fiber, drinking plenty of water and staying active can help keep your bowels moving regularly
  • Managing your weight: Excess weight can put pressure on your bladder and pelvic floor muscles. Losing even a small amount of weight can help reduce leaks and urgency
  • Stop using tobacco products: Smoking can irritate the bladder and increase your risk of coughing, which can worsen leakage. Quitting smoking can support better bladder health

Find specialized care for overactive bladder

At Baylor Scott & White, we offer several locations for the care of overactive bladder, including specialized women’s health centers in North and Central Texas. From diagnosis to treatment options, we're here to support your health with convenient access to the care you need, close to home.

Frequently asked questions

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