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Overactive bladder

An overactive bladder is a health condition where you have symptoms of needing to wee urgently and often. You may also have urge incontinence. Learn more about this condition, including symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment options.
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Key takeaways

  • If you need to wee often or urgently, or have wee leakage, you might have an overactive bladder.
  • Your doctor can help find the cause and recommend treatment options.
  • A pelvic floor physiotherapist can help with bladder training, pelvic floor muscle exercises and lifestyle advice.
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What is an overactive bladder?

When your bladder is full, it squeezes (contracts) so you can wee. With normal bladder function, you can usually hold on until you get to the toilet.

With an overactive bladder, you need to wee frequently and urgently, often before your bladder is full.

Symptoms of an overactive bladder

If you have an overactive bladder, you may:

  • need to wee often or urgently, or both
  • find it hard to hold on until you get to the toilet
  • leak wee before you get to the toilet
  • wee more than 7 times each day
  • wake up more than once in the night to wee
  • leak wee while asleep.

What causes an overactive bladder?

An overactive bladder may be caused by:

  • neurological disorders (e.g. stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, spina bifida, dementia)
  • diabetes that’s not well managed
  • the bladder not emptying fully
  • bladder outlet blockages (e.g. due to prolapse or surgery)
  • past pelvic cancer treatment.

Who is at risk?

You can’t change some risk factors for developing an overactive bladder. But some lifestyle changes can help, for example:

  • avoid caffeinated, fizzy or alcoholic drinks
  • don’t smoke
  • don’t drink more than 6 to 8 glasses of fluids per day
  • look after your bowel health.

How to get a diagnosis

Your doctor may diagnose an overactive bladder by reviewing your medical history and symptoms. They’ll also take a urine sample to rule out urinary infections. They may do an examination to learn more.

If you are referred to a specialist, you may need to do:

  • bladder function tests
  • pelvic or kidney ultrasounds, or both
  • tests to check for neurological disorders.

Treatment and management of an overactive bladder

A pelvic floor physiotherapist can help you to manage an overactive bladder. You will learn helpful techniques like how to:

  • control an urge and get to the toilet without leaking
  • use your pelvic floor muscles to reduce symptoms
  • use a TENS machine.

Want to learn more about pelvic floor exercises?

Join pelvic floor physiotherapist Janetta Webb on our podcast for simple exercises that strengthen your pelvic floor.