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 before your bladder is full.

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.

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.

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

• avoid caffeinated, fizzy or alcoholic drinks
• don’t smoke
• drink less than 3 litres of fluid per day
• look after your bowel health.

Your doctor can 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.