1. Urinary Incontinence in Women Slideshow Pictures
2. Urinary Incontinence in Men Slideshow Pictures
3. Food & Drinks That Make You Gotta Go Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Siamak T. Nabili, MD, MPH

Siamak T. Nabili, MD, MPH

Dr. Nabili received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), majoring in chemistry and biochemistry. He then completed his graduate degree at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). His graduate training included a specialized fellowship in public health where his research focused on environmental health and health-care delivery and management.

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Medical Editor:

Dennis Lee, MD

Dennis Lee, MD

Dr. Lee was born in Shanghai, China, and received his college and medical training in the United States. He is fluent in English and three Chinese dialects. He graduated with chemistry departmental honors from Harvey Mudd College. He was appointed president of AOA society at UCLA School of Medicine. He underwent internal medicine residency and gastroenterology fellowship training at Cedars Sinai Medical Center.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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In this Article

• What is an overactive bladder?
• What are the causes of overactive bladder?
• Are there any risk factors for overactive bladder?
• What are symptoms of an overactive bladder?
• How is overactive bladder diagnosed?
• What are treatments for an overactive bladder?
• What is the role of medications in treating overactive bladder?
• What are treatments for the chronically incontinent?
• What measures can be taken at home to prevent overactive bladder symptoms?
• What are some of the complications of overactive bladder?
• What is the prognosis for overactive bladder?
• Overactive Bladder At A Glance
• Patient Comments: Overactive Bladder - Treatments
• Find a local Urologist in your town
• Overactive Bladder Index

Some of the common risk factors for overactive bladder include

• advanced age (20% of population above 70 years of age may report symptoms of overactive bladder)



• stroke



• spinal cord injury



• dementia



• Parkinson's disease



• diabetes mellitus



• prostate enlargement



• prostate surgery



• multiple pregnancies.

Race is not a risk factor for overactive bladder as it can affect people of all races.

The symptoms of an overactive bladder include frequent urination, urgency of urination, nocturia (urinating in the middle of the night), and urge incontinence. Overactive bladder may cause significant social, psychological, occupational, domestic, physical, and sexual problems. Again, these symptoms should not be considered a normal part of aging.

Careful medical history and diligent review of symptoms related to overactive bladder are very important. Getting up to urinate at least three times in the middle of the night, increased urinary frequency (urinating at least eight times daily), urinary urgency, and urinary incontinence are all important clues in evaluating someone suspected of having overactive bladder.

In addition to a general physical examination, a pelvic exam in women (to assess for dryness, atrophy, inflammation, infection) and a prostate examination in men (to assess for size, tenderness, texture, masses) are helpful in excluding other contributing conditions.

Urine analysis (UA) to assess for infections and occasionally urine cytology (to look for cancer cells in the bladder) are sometimes advised in individuals undergoing evaluation of urinary incontinence and overactive bladder. Ultrasound measurement of the amount of urine left in the bladder after urination (called post-void residual) may also provide additional information about the cause of urinary incontinence (obstruction to urine flow, weak bladder muscle).