Bladder Health: Understanding Overactive Bladder and Incontinence

The bladder is a hollow muscular organ that stores urine until you are ready to empty it. When it works well, you barely think about it. When it does not, it can dominate your life.

Two of the most common bladder problems are overactive bladder and urinary incontinence. Overactive bladder causes a sudden, urgent need to urinate that is difficult to control. You may also need to urinate very frequently, more than eight times in 24 hours, and often during the night. It affects both men and women and becomes more common with age. It is not a normal part of ageing, and it is very treatable.

Urinary incontinence is the unintentional leakage of urine. Stress incontinence causes leakage when you cough, sneeze, laugh, or exercise. Urge incontinence is leakage associated with a sudden strong urge to urinate. Many people have a combination of both.

These conditions are far more common than people admit, largely because of embarrassment. But they should not be. They are medical conditions, not personal failings.

Assessment involves a detailed history, a bladder diary, urine tests, and sometimes urodynamic studies. Treatment options range from bladder training and pelvic floor exercises to medications, Botox injections into the bladder, and minimally invasive procedures.

If bladder symptoms are affecting your daily life, your sleep, or your confidence, speak to a urologist. There are effective solutions, and you do not have to manage this alone.