Overactive Bladder

What is an overactive bladder?

Overactive bladder (OAB) causes sudden urges to urinate that you can’t control. 

You may feel an urgent need to pass urine throughout the day and night and can also experience urinary incontinence (urine leaks) before you can make it to the bathroom.

Urologic Surgeons of Arizona offers comprehensive care for overactive bladder. Our providers focus on relieving your symptoms so you can maintain an active lifestyle.

When should I seek medical care for an overactive bladder?

You should schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Urologic Surgeons of Arizona if you’re embarrassed by frequent urine leaks or limited by the frequent need to urinate.

An evaluation is also important if urinary urgency wakes you up multiple times during the night and interferes with your ability to get high-quality sleep.

Our providers complete a physical exam and may also perform a pelvic exam for women and a rectal exam for men. He also offers bladder function tests to assess the overall health of your bladder.

Based on the results of your testing, our providers create a treatment plan to prevent overactive bladder symptoms.

What treatments are available for overactive bladder?

Urologic Surgeons of Arizona offers several therapies for overactive bladder. Initially, our providers may recommend behavioral changes like scheduling bathroom breaks every few hours and exercising the pelvic floor muscles that support your bladder.

There are also medications available to relax your bladder so you can empty it fully during urination. When these treatments aren’t working, our providers may recommend advanced therapies.

Botox

Injecting Botox into your bladder reduces symptoms caused by an overactive bladder. Repeat injections every six months offer long-lasting results.

Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS)

Outpatient PTNS sends impulses to nerves near your ankle to stimulate bladder control. You might need 12 weekly treatments and monthly maintenance sessions.

Sacral neuromodulation (SNM)

During an SNM procedure, our providers implant a tiny device under the skin in your upper buttocks to send mild electrical impulses through a wire near the sacral nerve in your lower back. The impulses stimulate nerves to aid in bladder control.

Axonics and Medtronic

Both therapies use a sacral nerve stimulator that delivers currents of electricity into the bladder. It requires minimally invasive surgery to implant the wires and a small generator to regulate bladder function. The stimulation restores communication between your bladder, bowel, and brain to provide long-lasting relief of overactive bladder symptoms.

If you have severe symptoms of OAB, you may need surgery to increase your bladder capacity. Surgery is also available to remove your bladder and create an opening (stoma) that allows urine to leave your body, which collects in a bag you wear outside of your body.

Call Urologic Surgeons of Arizona to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for overactive bladder symptoms or book an appointment online today.