What Causes Overactive Bladder?

Ever find yourself in the middle of an important meeting and needing to dash to the bathroom? Or simply stuck in traffic and really need to go? If you repeatedly experience similar situations, a condition called overactive bladder may be the reason.

As an OB-GYN, I’ll offer you the same advice I would give my patients – covering exactly what causes overactive bladder along with realistic management strategies.

First, you should know that bladder conditions are more common than many people think – for example, 1 in 3 women experience bladder leaks. Overactive bladder is one of the conditions that I see frequently with patients. Patients with overactive bladder symptoms are likely experiencing the following:

There are MANY possible overactive bladder causes, including:

There is a new term that is associated with a lack of estrogen and can encompass several conditions like vaginal dryness and overactive bladder symptoms, called Genitourinary Syndrome. Women are likely to experience Genitourinary Syndrome during menopause.

While menopause is often linked to overactive bladder, BMI and age are two of the most common risk factors for overactive bladder. Aging may bring increased susceptibility to other conditions that can cause overactive bladder, like diabetes, cognitive decline, medication use, etc.

Patients sometimes ask if pregnancy could lead to overactive bladder. Pregnancy and vaginal delivery both involve muscle and nerve compression and stretching, which can cause pelvic floor injury, leading to bladder urgency symptoms.

Breastfeeding, which causes a naturally low-estrogen state for women, might also increase bladder leaks. Many new moms experiencing these issues often ask, “will it ever improve?” The answer is yes; during the first year postpartum, the normal tissue remodeling and repair will slowly improve these bladder symptoms.

While improving all-around diet, exercise and stress management can help minimize overactive bladder symptoms, the following three techniques can make a tremendous difference:

I’ve had many patients successfully manage their overactive bladder symptoms with lifestyle changes alone. However, if behavioral changes and physical therapy aren’t enough, talk to your doctor about over-the-counter or prescription medications.

Even with all these options for managing overactive bladder, it’s still a good idea to be prepared with Poise® Ultra Thin pads for protection against bladder leaks. They can reliably and quickly manage wetness to keep you fresh and dry and prevent accidents. As always, talk with a doctor if you think you may have overactive bladder, because no two experiences are quite the same.

# # #

Author Summary: Dr. Staci Tanouye, MD, board-certified OB-GYN is a physician in a private practice and an expert in adolescent health, sexual health, reproductive health, and menopausal health. She has become one of the leading gynecologists on social media with the mission to educate women and all people with vulvas to love their bodies through knowledge and empowerment.