Understanding Overactive Bladder Symptoms and Treatment

Overactive bladder is a condition characterized by frequent urination urges and sometimes incontinence, affecting daily life quality.

Overactive Bladder FAQ

Image credit: scientificanimations.com

What is overactive bladder (OAB)?

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a combination of symptoms that may cause you to urinate (pee) more frequently, have uncontrollable urges to pee, experience incontinence and have to pee at night. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission.

What happens if you have an overactive bladder?

If your overactive bladder symptoms disrupt your life, you might also have: Anxiety. Emotional distress or depression. Sexual problems. Sleep disturbances and interrupted sleep cycles. People assigned female at birth who have an overactive bladder also may have a condition called mixed incontinence. This has both urgency and stress incontinence.

Is overactive bladder a disease?

Overactive bladder is a category of urinary symptoms, rather than a disease in its own right. It can result from a number of different diseases and health conditions. People with overactive bladder tend to have sudden urges to urinate that they can’t control, and some people will leak urine as a result (known as incontinence).

What is the difference between stress incontinence and overactive bladder?

Learn the difference between stress incontinence and overactive bladder. What is overactive bladder? Overactive bladder (OAB) is a combination of symptoms that may cause you to urinate (pee) more frequently, have uncontrollable urges to pee, experience incontinence and have to pee at night.

What is an overactive bladder?

An overactive bladder or OAB is where a person regularly gets a sudden and compelling need or desire to pass urine. This sensation is difficult to put off (defer) and this can happen at any time during the day or night, often without any warning. This leaflet describes the symptoms of an overactive bladder and identifies possible treatments.

What is an overactive bladder (OAB)?

An overactive bladder (OAB) causes a sudden urge to urinate. It can also trigger involuntary loss of urine, known as incontinence. Overactive bladder affects about 33 million Americans. Women are more often affected than men. It can be difficult to manage symptoms because an overactive bladder may be unpredictable.

What happens if a woman has an overactive bladder?

People assigned female at birth who have an overactive bladder also may have a condition called mixed incontinence. This has both urgency and stress incontinence. Stress incontinence is the sudden loss of urine from physical movement or activity that puts pressure on the bladder.

What are the symptoms of overactive bladder syndrome?

Symptoms include an urgent feeling that you need to go to the toilet, needing to pass urine frequently and sometimes leaking urine before you can get to the toilet. Treatment with bladder training often cures the problem. Sometimes medication may be advised in addition to bladder training to relax the bladder. What is overactive bladder syndrome?