Overactive bladder therapies

Overactive bladder is defined by urgency, with or without frequent urination, night-time urination, or urgency-related leaking. Treatment depends on what is happening in your bladder, pelvic floor, bowel, nerves, and daily habits. A therapy that helps one person may not suit another, and improvement may require a combination of approaches.

Start by recording symptoms and possible triggers. Bladder training uses planned toilet visits and gradual urge control. Pelvic-floor therapy can teach coordinated contractions and relaxation, rather than simply telling you to squeeze harder. A clinician may suggest urine testing and review medicines or constipation. If symptoms remain troublesome, prescription medicines or other specialist options may be discussed, including their side effects and follow-up. Urodynamic testing may help when bladder function needs closer assessment.

Seek clinical advice for symptoms that are new, persistent, or affecting sleep and activities. Prompt care is needed with blood in urine, fever, burning, back or side pain, vomiting, inability to urinate, or new neurological changes. Those signs can indicate infection, obstruction, or another condition requiring a different response.

Which therapy should I try first? How long should I practise bladder training before reviewing it? Can pelvic-floor therapy be tailored to my symptoms? What side effects should I watch for with medicine? When would urodynamic testing change the plan?