Private Treatment For an Overactive Bladder

Overactive bladder syndrome is increasingly commonplace. The symptoms can vary, but may include:

• Urgency. Getting a sudden urgent desire to pass urine. You are not able to put off going to the toilet, regardless of how recently you may have emptied your bladder.
• Frequency. Going to the toilet more often than you usually would.
• Nocturia. Waking to go to the toilet more than once during the night.
• Urge incontinence. Leaking of urine before you can get to the toilet when you have a feeling of urgency.

Your consultant will speak to you about your problem and general health. They may examine you and perform an internal examination. You will have a urine test to check for an infection. You will be asked to record the frequency and volume of the urine you pass. You may also have a flow test, which includes passing urine into a device to measure the strength of your flow and check whether you can empty your bladder completely.

There are a variety of forms of treatment for overactive bladder syndrome. These include:

• Some general lifestyle measures which may help such as adjusting the amount of fluids that are drunk, or possibly cutting out caffeine.
• Bladder training is the main treatment. This can work well in up to half of cases. Medication may be advised instead of, or in addition to, bladder training.
• Pelvic floor exercises may also be advised in some cases. If the above treatments are unsuccessful, there is the option of surgery.