Everything You Need To Know About Overactive Bladder In Women

An overactive bladder is a common condition many people, especially women, struggle with. The condition can worsen with age, because of medication, or after pregnancy. People who have experienced an overactive bladder are likely familiar with having the sudden urge to urinate or constantly feeling like they need to urinate. At times, the urge to urinate may feel uncontrollable and result in leaks or difficulty walking because it is so strong. These are all symptoms of an overactive bladder.

A Brief Overview Of An Overactive Bladder

The main symptoms of an overactive bladder include feeling a sudden urge to urinate that is difficult to control, experiencing involuntary loss of urine immediately after feeling the need to urinate, frequent urination (often eight or more times within twenty-four hours), or waking up two or more times at night to urinate. People who experience these symptoms and are unable to live a normal life because of them should consult their doctor to learn more about the condition and the treatments that may be available to them. It is not always easy to discuss private issues with a health care professional. However, for people who are suffering from an overactive bladder, getting help is worth it because an overactive bladder can substantially disrupt their work and social life.

Causes Of An Overactive Bladder

An overactive bladder occurs when the bladder muscles begin contracting involuntarily even when there is little urine. The involuntary contractions are what produce the feeling of an urgent need to urinate. There are numerous conditions that may cause an overactive bladder, including diabetes, neurological disorders (for example, multiple sclerosis), Alzheimer’s, strokes, medications with urine production as a side effect, urinary tract infections, tumors in the bladder or bladder stones, excessive alcohol or caffeine consumption, a decline in cognitive functioning due to aging, incomplete bladder emptying, and difficulty walking.

Many women tend to experience an overactive bladder during and after pregnancy due to the stress placed on the bladder during pregnancy and childbirth. An overactive bladder is not a disease, so there is no cure for it. However, there are treatments that can help people cope with the condition.