If you find yourself constantly racing to the bathroom or feeling like your bladder has a mind of its own, you're not alone. Overactive bladder (OAB) affects millions of people and can significantly disrupt daily life — whether at work, out with friends or at home.
"We call it the garage door syndrome. You're fine driving home, but when you open that garage door, your bladder just runs with it," explains Dr. Kathleen Kobashi, a urologist at Houston Methodist. "It's very common, but there are effective treatments."
In the video above, Dr. Kobashi explains what causes urgency incontinence and how to take back control with a range of effective treatments.
Non-surgical therapies for OAB
Many people can manage OAB symptoms without surgery. These conservative approaches are often the first step in treatment and can make a big difference in daily comfort and confidence.
- Dietary modification: "Avoid caffeine, wine, tomato sauce or other substances that can irritate the bladder," says Dr. Kobashi.
- Urgency suppression techniques: Your doctor can teach you tricks to divert your attention long enough to make it to the bathroom.
- Quick flick pelvic floor exercises: Doing Kegel exercises very quickly can help back up the curve a bit to buy you more time.
- Medications: Ask you doctor about whether medication might be the right solution for helping relax your bladder. "These are very effective, but there may be side effects or cost limitations," adds Dr. Kobashi.
Treating OAB with surgery
If lifestyle changes and medications aren't enough, there are several minimally invasive procedures that can offer long-term relief.
- Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS): "The nerves that control your bladder start in the lower back and travel down to the ankle," explains Dr. Kobashi. PTNS is very similar to acupuncture, stimulating that nerve to modulate messages to the bladder. This approach requires regular trips to the clinic, though newer techniques are helping reduce this.
- Bladder Botox: This injection relaxes the muscles in the bladder. It's a quick office procedure that lasts for about 6 months.
- Bladder pacemaker: A thin wire, powered by a tiny battery, is used to stimulate the sacral nerve in the lower back. Like a heart pacemaker, this is a more permanent option.
