Overactive Bladder Singapore

Dr. Arthur Tseng

Dr. Arthur Tseng

Obstetrician & Gynaecologist and Urogynaecologist at Gleneagles Medical Centre.

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An overactive bladder is a condition that affects many individuals worldwide, significantly impacting one’s quality of life. If you are living in Singapore and experiencing symptoms such as frequent urination, urgency, or leakage, it’s important to know that help is available. There are various overactive bladder treatment options that can effectively manage and improve your symptoms.

What is an Overactive Bladder

An overactive bladder (OAB) is a condition characterized by a sudden, involuntary contraction of the muscle in the wall of the urinary bladder, leading to a sudden and urgent need to urinate. This can result in frequent urination, urgency, and sometimes incontinence (leakage). OAB can significantly impact a person’s quality of life, affecting daily activities and social interactions.

Consult our urogynaecologist for proper diagnosis and treatment options if you experience these symptoms.

Common Symptoms of Overactive Bladder

Overactive bladder symptoms typically include:

  • A sudden, strong urge to urinate that’s difficult to control.
  • Frequent urination, often eight or more times during the day.
  • Urgency incontinence, where you may leak urine after feeling an urgent need to urinate.
  • Nocturia, which involves waking up two or more times at night to urinate

OAB symptoms vary from person to person, and you may experience one or more of these signs. While these symptoms can be frustrating, there are effective solutions available to help you manage them and regain control.

What Causes of Overactive Bladder

There are various causes of an overactive bladder, including:

  • Weak or overactive bladder muscles, often affected by pregnancy and childbirth, can lead to incontinence issues since these muscles control urination. Weak muscles struggle to hold urine, while overactive ones contract too often, causing frequent urges to urinate.
  • Nerve damage in the bladder can disrupt the signals between the brain and the bladder, leading to problems with bladder control. This could result from various conditions, including diabetes, spinal injuries, or neurological diseases.
  • Infection or irritation in the bladder, such as a urinary tract infection (UTI), can cause symptoms like a strong urge to urinate, pain during urination, and frequent, small amounts of urination. These symptoms occur because the infection inflames the bladder, making it sensitive.
  • Alcohol and caffeine are diuretics, meaning they increase the production of urine. Consuming these substances can lead to more frequent urination, which may exacerbate bladder control issues.
  • Certain medications, such as diuretics used to treat high blood pressure, can increase urine production. This heightened production can challenge individuals with existing bladder control issues, as they may need to urinate more frequently.
  • After menopause, women experience a decrease in oestrogen levels, which can affect the health of the bladder and urethra. This decrease can lead to weakened bladder muscles and a higher risk of urinary incontinence.

It is essential to determine the underlying cause of your overactive bladder to receive appropriate treatment.

How is Overactive Bladder Diagnosed?

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. They may also perform a physical examination to check for any underlying conditions that could be causing your overactive bladder.

To diagnose an overactive bladder, your doctor may perform the following tests in Singapore:

  • Urinalysis: This test involves analysing a urine sample to check for signs of infection or other abnormalities.
  • Bladder scan: A bladder scan is a non-invasive procedure that uses ultrasound technology to measure the amount of urine left in your bladder after urinating.
  • Urodynamic testing: This test measures how well your bladder and urethra hold and release urine. It can also identify any abnormalities in the nerves or muscles associated with urination.
  • Cystoscopy: A thin, flexible tube with a camera on the end is inserted into the urethra to examine the inside of the bladder for any abnormalities.

What are the risk factors of overactive bladder?

Some factors can increase the risk of developing an overactive bladder, including:

  • Ageing: As individuals age, their bodily functions can naturally decline. This includes the muscles around the bladder and pelvic floor weakening over time, making it harder to control urination.
  • Gender: Women are more likely to develop overactive bladder due to hormonal changes during pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause.
  • Obesity: Excess weight can put pressure on the bladder, leading to weaker muscles and increased risk of an overactive bladder.
  • Weakened bladder muscles: The bladder muscles, crucial for starting and stopping urine flow, can weaken due to various reasons including natural ageing, surgery, or childbirth. This weakening can lead to urinary incontinence or difficulty fully emptying the bladder.
  • Neurological conditions like Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis: These conditions affect the brain and nervous system, disrupting the signals between the brain and the bladder. This can lead to problems with bladder control and coordination, causing incontinence or difficulty in urination.
  • Certain medications: Some medicines can affect bladder control as a side effect. For example, medications that increase urine production or require the bladder to retain more urine can lead to incontinence. Other drugs may weaken the bladder’s ability to contract, making it difficult to empty completely.
  • Urinary tract infections: Infections of the urinary tract can irritate the bladder, causing a need to urinate more frequently or urgently. This can also lead to incontinence or the inability to control urination, as the bladder becomes overly sensitive.

Treating and Managing an overactive bladder in Singapore

If you have symptoms of an overactive bladder, seek medical advice from a healthcare professional. They will perform a thorough evaluation to determine the underlying cause of your overactive bladder and develop an individualised treatment plan.

Lifestyle Changes:

One of the first steps in managing an overactive bladder is making lifestyle changes. This may include:

  • Limiting caffeine and alcohol intake as they can irritate the bladder
  • Drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated
  • Maintaining a healthy weight to reduce pressure on the bladder
  • Practising pelvic floor exercises to strengthen bladder muscles
Woman with Overactive Bladder Treatment holding bladder.

Medications:

In some cases, medication may be prescribed to help manage the symptoms of an overactive bladder. These medications work by relaxing the bladder and reducing spasms that can cause the urge to urinate.

Bladder Training and Behavioral Therapy:

Bladder training is a technique used to help individuals with an overactive bladder regain control of their bladder. This involves slowly increasing the time between bathroom visits and gradually training the bladder to hold more urine.

Behavioural therapy may also include pelvic muscle exercises, biofeedback, and other techniques to improve bladder control. These therapies require commitment and dedication to be effective, but they can be very helpful in managing OAB symptoms long-term.

Continence Devices:

Continence devices like a continence pessary or tampon can be used for stress incontinence. Vaginal weighted cones can also be used for training pelvic floor muscles for both stress incontinence and overactive bladder syndrome.

Image of overactive bladder.

FURTHER TREATMENT/MANAGEMENT OF AN OVERACTIVE BLADDER:

Urostym®

Urostym® treatment for a more intensive “crash-course” pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation invoking stimulation, biofeedback and physical training.

Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation (PTNS)

Where a minute electrical current is used to modulate nerve-muscle activity in patients with OAB and/or voiding disorders, for better symptom control.

There are other treatments available, including surgery options such as cystoplasty, which may be more relevant for serious cases. This is why it’s important to see a Urogynaecologist to understand your condition, get a diagnosis, and have a treatment plan customised for you.

Importance of Seeking Treatment

An overactive bladder can impact one’s daily life, causing embarrassment, anxiety, and reduced productivity. Seeking treatment is crucial to not only managing this condition but also improving quality of life.

Conclusion

If you are living in Singapore and experiencing symptoms of an overactive bladder, do not hesitate to seek medical advice from a healthcare professional. With the various treatment options available, you can manage your overactive bladder and improve your quality of life. Remember to make necessary lifestyle changes and follow through with prescribed treatments for optimal results. So, take control of your overactive bladder today and live a more comfortable and fulfilling life.

We are here to help you find relief and regain control of your bladder.

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Dr Tseng's expertise covers urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, apart from that, his particular interest lies in the holistic management of Overactive Bladder Syndrome and other functional bladder conditions. With many years of experience in this field, he is committed to providing patients

providing women's health care for 20 years

We strive to help you manage urogynaecologic symptoms so that you can get back to living your best life.