Overactive Bladder in Midlife Women
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PATIENT The ® Female Patient and What You Should Know About HANDOUT Overactive Bladder in Midlife Women veractive bladder is a common and ounces per day. It is possible, however, that too little fluid embarrassing problem that affects many can cause very concentrated urine that can irritate your bladder. So be sure not to over restrict fluids. Owomen before, during, and beyond Avoid bladder irritants. Certain foods and beverages menopause. The most common symptoms are that are high in caffeine or acid (such as coffee, cola soft frequent, sudden urges to urinate, with occasional drinks, grapefruit juice, and tomatoes) can contribute to OAB by irritating the lining of the bladder. leakage. Several treatments are available. Develop pelvic floor strength. Muscle training, such as doing Kegel exercises to strengthen your pelvic muscles, What is overactive bladder? involves learning how to isolate and contract the levator Overactive bladder (OAB) is a condition in which nerves ani muscle, a broad, thin muscle on the side of your pel- send signals to the bladder at the wrong time, causing vis. Massage and stretching may also improve OAB the muscles in the bladder wall to squeeze without warn- symptoms. ing. The most common symptoms are frequent, sudden Retrain your bladder. Once a woman has learned how urges to urinate. Occasionally, women experience urine to isolate and contract her pelvic floor muscles, she can leakage. Having to go to the bathroom up to seven times contract these muscles at the first sensation of the urge a day is normal for many women, but women with OAB to urinate. This technique can suppress the feeling of may find that they need to urinate even more frequently. having to go to the bathroom. Women who do not have OAB is a common and potentially embarrassing problem OAB but feel they need to urinate frequently can also use that affects many women before, during, and beyond this process to suppress the urge and thus extend the menopause. intervals between trips to the toilet. OAB affects 16.6% of the general female population in Acupuncture. At least one study suggests that acu- the United States. It becomes more common as women puncture may improve OAB symptoms. age. The involuntary loss of urine can be unpleasant, dis- tressing, and may significantly affect a woman’s quality If these lifestyle options aren’t effective, of life. Women with OAB often attempt to cope with what other treatments can I try? symptoms on their own instead of seeking help because • Your doctor may prescribe a medicine to block the they don’t have good access to health care, feel embar- nerve signals that cause frequent urination and rassed, or are unaware that treatment is available for this urgency. Anticholinergic medications can help relax condition. Don’t be embarrassed! There are many treat- bladder muscles and prevent bladder spasms. ment options, and your doctor can help you. • Some of the medicines you may already be taking might be affecting the nerves and muscles of the uri- How will I know if I have OAB? nary tract and contribute to bladder control problems. Symptoms of OAB include: Ask your doctor if an alternative medicine is available • Urinary frequency is the bothersome need to urinate and see if it solves your urinary problem. eight or more times a day, or two or more times at night. • There are also several surgical techniques available to • Urinary urgency is the sudden, strong need to urinate treat OAB, including detrusor injection of Clostridium immediately. botulinum toxin type A (better known as Botox), nerve • Urge incontinence is defined as the leaking or gush- stimulation, and other methods. When other therapies ing of urine that follows a sudden, strong urge. fail, one of these may be an option. • Nocturia is when a woman wakes up at night to urinate. Where can I learn more? Are there nondrug and nonsurgical National Institutes of Health overview of urge inconti- strategies for managing OAB? nence/overactive bladder at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Yes, your doctor may recommend some of the following /pubmedhealth/PMH0002250. lifestyle options: Basics of overactive bladder from the Mayo Clinic Restrict fluids. Women who normally drink large at www.mayoclinic.com/health/overactive-bladder amounts of liquids should limit their intake to about 64 /DS00827. 3/12 The Female Patient and The North American Menopause Society grant permission to reproduce this handout for the purposes of patient education. A downloadable version of this patient handout is also available at: www.femalepatient.com and www.menopause.org. .