OAB is when you feel the urge to pass urine frequently and visit the toilet often. If this happens at night, it is called nocturia. Some women with OAB have urinary incontinence as well. Women of all ages may experience bladder issues such as these.
The main cause of involuntary bladder muscles contractions. Sometimes this is temporarily caused by urinary tract infections (UTI). In other cases, this can be caused by damage to the nervous system e.g. older age or medical conditions such as diabetes, stroke, dementia etc.
Other causes include:
You should consult a urogynaecologist to determine if you have OAB or urinary incontinence, its severity and your treatment options. Your doctor will take a detailed medical history and perform a pelvic examination to check for any pelvic organ prolapse and pelvic floor muscle tone.
Depending on your symptoms, you may require a pelvic and bladder ultrasound scan, urine tests and/or urodynamic study (this is a test to check for your bladder function and bladder muscle stability).
You may not be fully cured because this is a long-term condition, but there are many good ways to keep your symptoms under control so that your life does not revolve around your bladder.
The first line treatment is lifestyle changes, which are sometimes sufficient to improve symptoms of urge urinary incontinence significantly. These include:
If these do not work, medications are usually added on. These relax your bladder muscle and allow you to increase the intervals that you need to pass urine. There may be some side effects, so you may have to try different drugs before finding one that suits you. There are certain medical conditions that may make you unsuitable to take these medications – do check with your urogynaecologist.
Finally, 2nd line options include bladder Botox injection into the bladder and nerve stimulation. These are invasive options reserved for women who have failed to improve despite all measures and usually need to be repeated as their effects last for 6 months.
At ACRM, we believe that women should no longer suffer in silence from common urogynaecological conditions such as sagging pelvic organs, urinary incontinence and bladder issues. Be it after childbirth or as you mature and age, the ACRM Urogyn package works with you to provide personalised solutions for urogynaecological issues ensuring early detection and treatment of these conditions.
Consultation with Specialist Female Urogynaecologist
Pelvic (transvaginal) ultrasound Exclude uterus and/or ovary abnormalities e.g. fibroids, polyps, cysts | Bladder (transabdominal) scan Check for residual urine (bladder emptying function) |
Urine analysis Check for urinary tract infections, blood in urine | Bedside one-on-one education Hands-on teaching on Kegel (pelvic floor) exercises and techniques |
Tailored treatment plan Customised treatment proposal for any urogynaecological issues identified |
