Overactive bladder (OAB) is characterized by the urgent and frequent need to urinate and being regularly wakened two or more times in the night by the need to urinate (nocturia). OAB may sometimes result in urinary in-continence, when the extreme urge to urinate can't be controlled long enough to get to a toilet. This type of incontinence is called urge incontinence.

In people with an overactive bladder, the layered, smooth muscle that surrounds the bladder (detrusor muscle) contracts spasmodically, which results in sustained, high bladder pressure and the urgent need to urinate (called urgency). Normally, the detrusor muscle contracts and relaxes in response to the volume of urine in the bladder and the initiation of urination.

People with OAB often experience urgency at inconvenient and unpredictable times and sometimes lose control before reaching a toilet. Thus, overactive bladder interferes with work, daily routine, intimacy and sexual function; causes embarrassment; and can diminish self-esteem and quality of life. Overactive bladder is very common in older adults. Both men and women can have it, but it's more common in women.

Overactive bladder can cause other problems too. Hurrying to the bathroom can lead to falls and broken bones, especially in women who have gone through menopause. That's because older women are more likely to have brittle bones that break easily. In both men and women, overactive bladder can cause sleeping problems, depression, and urinary tract infections.

• Why do you suspect that I have OAB?
• What are common overactive bladder symptoms?
• What other conditions can cause symptoms similar to OAB?
• Are there any complications associated with overactive bladder?
• What are possible causes for bladder control problems?
• What do you suspect is the underlying cause for my condition?
• What does OAB diagnosis involve?
• What is a voiding diary?
• Might this tool be helpful in diagnosing bladder control problems or treating OAB? Why or why not?
• What types of diagnostic tests might be performed?
• What is urinalysis?
• What do postvoid residual volume (PRV), urodynamic testing (e.g., cystometry, uroflowmetry), cystoscopy, and imaging tests (e.g., ultrasound, x-ray) involve?
• Which of these diagnostic tests do you recommend?
• Why do you recommend these tests?
• What type(s) of overactive bladder treatments are available?
• Which OAB treatment(s) do you recommend?
• Why do you recommend these treatments?
• What are the benefits, risks, and possible side effects of these OAB treatments?
• What does bladder retraining with timed voiding involve?
• Might this OAB treatment be helpful? Why or why not?
• What types of medications are used to treat bladder control problems?