OAB

Surgery to enlarge the bladder -- called augmentation cystoplasty -- may be considered when the bladder is extremely small or generates high pressure. But due to the risk of complications, surgery should only be explored as a treatment option once all alternatives have been tried. ... View slideshow >>

Small devices can regulate bladder function much the way pacemakers regulate heart function, by gently activating selected nerves. Brief doses of electrical stimulation strengthen muscles in the lower pelvis in a similar way that exercising the muscles does, or help to stabilize overactive muscles. ... View slideshow >>

Overactive bladder may be effectively treated with prescription medication. The drugs work by inhibiting bladder contractions and relaxing the detrusor muscle. Side effects may include dry mouth, eye problems, headache, abdominal pain or urine buildup. Ask your doctor which medication is the right treatment option for you. ... View slideshow >>

Behavioral therapies can help you sense when your bladder is filling and help you delay urination until you reach a toilet. Kegel exercises: Clench the muscles that you use to stop urine flow, hold tightly for five seconds, then rest for 10 seconds. Repeat for 10 to 20 sets, three times a day, to strengthen your pelvic muscles. Bladder training: By adhering to a timed urination schedule, with... View slideshow >>

Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms: Having the urge to urinate more than eight times in a 24-hour period Getting up two or more times during the night to urinate Accidental loss of urine due to a sudden and unstoppable need to urinate ... View slideshow >>

Women are more likely than men to suffer from overactive bladder, particularly women who are pregnant or who have given birth. Yet it affects both men and women, and the risks go up over age 60. The following conditions are risk factors for OAB: diabetes, enlarged prostate, dementia, stroke, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury or disease, obesity, bladder infections, and pelvic surgery or... View slideshow >>

Overactive bladder (OAB) refers to a bladder that contracts more often than it should. Instead of staying at rest as urine fills the bladder, the detrusor muscle contracts while the bladder is filling. As a result, an individual feels the need to urinate more frequently and/or urgently than necessary. He or she may be unable to hold urine long enough to make it to a toilet, and may experience a... View slideshow >>