Overactive Bladder (OAB) and Its Symptoms: An Overview

• November 06, 2023

Overactive Bladder (OAB) and Its Symptoms: An Overview

Overactive bladder (OAB) refers to a number of urinary tract problems, especially related to the lower urinary tract. Symptoms include:

Frequency: To void 8 or more times.

Urgency: The complaint of a sudden compelling desire to pass urine that cannot be avoided.

Nocturia: Waking 2-3 times at night to void urine and often incontinence, where urine passes before reaching the toilet.

Polydipsia: Drinking too much water can also cause these conditions.

To explain this, it's important to note that all of this is controlled by bladder muscles. If instability occurs, spontaneous control fails, as detrusor control (urinary bladder muscle contraction and relaxation) holds urine. It can be caused by urinary outflow obstruction.

How the Bladder works?

The main function of the bladder is to convert the steady stream of urine produced by the kidneys into a convenient intermittent process of storage and evacuation. Therefore, the bladder acts as a reservoir that can hold up to 500ml of urine, providing comfort. This requires a neurological network.

Involuntary leakage of urine can only occur if intra-vesical pressure exceeds the urethral closure pressure. Clinical assessment should be done from the bladder to the urethra, including a neurological assessment of the vulval and perineal skin and any damage to the sacral spinal cord segment S2-S4.

Bladder Diary: 

Recording the amount and number of times urine is voided.

Analysis of urine for bacteria, pyuria, and hematuria.

Most females with OAB symptoms can be successfully treated by conservative measures. Reassure following simple clinical evaluation, physical exam, and a few basic investigations. Once a diagnosis of OAB is made, then other drug therapies and modalities should be considered.

By Dr. Farzana Siddiqui