Overactive Bladder
by Arkansas Urology on Thursday, November 05, 2020

Getting up to urinate often at night, the sudden urge to urinate, leaking urine, wetting accidents and frequent urination are all symptoms of overactive
bladder. While overactive bladder is most common in older adults, the condition is not a normal result of aging. It’s not something that people should
ever assume they have to live with. While one in 11 people in the US suffers from overactive bladder, it mainly affects people 65 and older. However,
women can be affected earlier, often in their early to mid 40s. This occurs about twice as frequently in women as it does men. About one in five adults
over 40 will have some varying degrees of OAB symptoms.
Many people believe that leaking, wetting accidents and problems urinating are normal things that just start happening as we get older, but that’s just
a myth. Overactive bladder is never normal. The good news is overactive bladder can be treated, and you can go back to feeling like yourself again.
However, the first step is definitely talking to your doctor. This is a common problem, so don’t be ashamed or afraid to have an open conversation with
your doctor about what you have been experiencing. As many as 30% of men and 40% of women live with OAB because they think they don’t have any options,
but that’s simply not the case.
At AU, we take a comprehensive approach to treating overactive bladder. We funnel patients through our nationally-recognized pathways to get the right
treatment for them. The key we have found in treating OAB is to start with first-line therapies like behavioral adjustments and then work to more advanced
therapies that can include minimally invasive procedures.
You can contact AU to learn more about how we treat OAB and to visit with a doctor about your condition.