Overactive bladder is characterized simply as experiencing the sudden urge to urinate. However, patients who’ve been diagnosed with this disorder often also experience involuntary loss of urine (or incontinence) as well as trouble ceasing urination. Having an overactive bladder can greatly affect your work, social, and personal life, especially if you’re afraid to venture far from a bathroom.

Thankfully, doctors offer management and treatment techniques in a combination of the following:

1. OAB medications

Medications prescribed for overactive bladder (i.e., Oxytrol, Sanctura, Detrol, etc.) aim to relax the bladder itself, thus reducing urinary urgency and incontinence. However, taking these drugs often has a drying effect on the rest of the body. Patients often complain of dry eyes, dry mouth, constipation, and increased thirst.

2. Absorbent pads

To avoid embarrassing mishaps, doctors will often recommend wearing absorbent undergarments fitted with pads to protect clothing should an accident occur.

3. Bladder training

Bladder training is a type of physical therapy that trains patients to delay urinating (by about 30-minutes to 3 hours at a time) when they feel a sudden urge to urinate. The idea is to gradually work up to holding urine longer by contracting the pelvic floor and urine sphincter muscles (kegel exercises) to reduce involuntary bladder contractions.

4. Bladder injections

Aside from banishing fine lines and wrinkles, botox (or OnabotulinumtoxinA) injections have also shown promise in helping control involuntary bladder contractions. Botox is derived from a type of bacteria linked to botulism illness, but small injections doses injected into bladder tissues can paralyzes muscles enough to reduce urinary incontinence. Botox injections are usually given every 5-months as freezing wears off over time.

5. OAB surgery

In severe overactive bladder patients, surgery may be a last resort to reduce symptoms when patients don’t find relief with other less invasive treatment. Surgery aims to increase the amount of urine the bladder can store. Surgeons may extract tissue from the bowel to increase bladder capacity. Or, only in the most severe cases, remove the bladder completely and replace it with a neobladder or urine collection bag. Both types of surgery may demand use of a catheter either temporarily or permanently.