Phone: (703) 680-2111

Fax: (703) 878-3939

Potomac Urology Potomac Urology

 PATIENT PORTAL BOOK APPOINTMENT INSTANTLY

Overactive Bladder (OAB) Specialist in Northern Virginia

The most common symptom of OAB is a sudden urge to urinate that you can't control. Some people will leak urine when they feel the urge. As many as 30% of men and 40% of women in the United States live with OAB symptoms. The board-certified urologists at Potomac Urology specialize in the treatment and diagnosis of OAB. If you're experiencing symptoms of OAB, contact us today to schedule an appointment in Alexandria or Woodbridge. Give our office a call at (703) 680-2111 or request an appointment through our secure online form.

What are the Symptoms of Overactive Bladder?

  • Urgency
  • Leaking urine/incontinence
  • Urinate frequently
  • Waking up at night to urinate/nocturia
  • Urinating small amounts

What Are the Causes of Bladder Control Issues?

How the Urinary Tract Works  The bladder and kidneys are part of the urinary system the organs in our bodies that produce, store and pass urine. Urine is stored in the bladder. Once you are ready to urinate, the brain sends a signal to the bladder. Then the bladder muscles squeeze (or "contract"). This forces the urine out through the urethra, the tube that carries urine from your body. OAB can be caused by the nerve signals between your bladder and brain telling your bladder to empty even when it isn't full. OAB can also be the result of your bladder muscles being too active. Then your bladder muscles contract to pass urine before your bladder is full, and that causes a sudden, strong need to urinate. We call this "urgency."

What Are the Risk Factors for Overactive Bladder?

  • Age
  • Women who have gone through menopause
  • Men who have had prostate problems
  • People with diseases that affect the brain or spinal cord (stroke, multiple sclerosis)

Overactive Bladder

Bladder control problems affect tens of millions of people every day, and many people are reluctant to talk about it.   

  • Do you go more than 8 times per day?
  • Are you urinating often or frequently (i.e., peeing a lot)?
  • Do you feel like you have to pee a lot or have urinary urgency in men or women,
  • Are you asking yourself “why do I have to pee so much?”

Discussing your symptoms with your physician can be the first step to getting help.

Symptoms of Overactive bladder (OAB)

OAB statistics

Urgency  - uncontrollable urge to use the bathroom

Frequency – The need to urinate more than 8 times per day

Urge Incontinence - leakage accidents that occur before you reach the bathroom

Urinary Retention – Holding increasingly large amounts of urine

Stress Incontinence - Leaking when you sneeze, cough, laugh, or exercise

 

Facts about Overactive bladder (OAB):

Ignoring Overactive bladder (OAB) Poses Risks. People with undiagnosed OAB have reported3:

You Are Not Alone – Find Relief for Bladder Control Problems

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a treatable condition. It’s not a normal part of aging. And you shouldn’t have to deal with it on your own. There are many ways to treat incontinence4 and get back to living life.

 

 Lifestyle Changes

 Medication

 Advanced Therapies

Can include diet, exercise, bladder retraining (biofeedback), or pelvic floor strengthening (Kegels)

Medications can control symptoms and are tried first before proceeding to a permanent solution. If conservative treatments don’t deliver the results you expected, we can proceed straight to an Advanced therapy.

  • Medtronic InterStim™ systems
  • Injected medications 
     

 

  1. Stewart WF, Van Rooyen JB, Cundiff GW, et al. World J Urol. 2003;20(6):327-336.
  2. US Census Bureau 2020. US adult and under-age-18 populations: 2020 census. https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/adult-and-under-the-age-of-18-populations-2020-census.html. Accessed June 20, 2022.
  3. Leede Research, “Views on OAB: A Study for the National Association of Continence.” December 16, 2015.
  4. American Urological Association. Diagnosis and treatment of non-neurogenic overactive bladder (OAB) in adults: an AUA/SUFU guideline. Published 2012; amended 2014, 2019; accessed August 5, 2020. https://www.auanet.org/guidelines-and-quality/guidelines/overactive-bladder-(oab)-guideline

Information on this site should not be used as a substitute for talking with your doctor. Always talk with your doctor about diagnosis and treatment information.

Important Safety Information

Powered by Encounter CSS ™ | Terms of Use

Schedule Your Overactive Bladder Appointment

Call Potomac Urology at (703) 680-2111 today to schedule your overactive bladder appointment at one of our offices in Northern Virginia.