Rushing to the bathroom. Again. Mapping every restroom on your regular route. Waking up to pee multiple times each night. If overactive bladder (OAB) has you planning your life around the nearest bathroom, you’re not alone. But you don’t have to accept it as your new reality. That’s because there are many effective OAB treatment options, many of which don’t involve surgery.
OAB Treatment Options That Don’t Involve Surgery
Non-invasive approaches often provide lasting improvement without the risks or downtime of surgery. They aim to restore control by addressing the three main contributors to bladder overactivity:
- Behavioral patterns, such as just-in-case trips to the bathroom, that teach the bladder to empty too often
- Overhydration
- Disruptions in muscle and nerve signaling, where the bladder or pelvic floor muscles aren’t working in sync
- Triggers, including diet and medications that worsen bladder sensitivity
Treatment typically starts with conservative options and builds from there. Often, you’ll experiment with combining techniques that complement one another for better results.
Retraining Your Bladder With Behavioral and Lifestyle Therapy
The bladder is a muscle that can be conditioned, just like any other. Bladder training helps you regain control by gradually increasing the time between bathroom visits. Instead of responding to every urge, you follow a timed urination schedule. You’ll increase the interval between bathroom visits as your bladder adjusts. This process reduces urgency over time.
Other lifestyle strategies include:
- Managing fluids wisely. Staying hydrated is important, but spreading fluid intake evenly throughout the day and limiting it before bedtime can reduce nighttime trips.
- Avoiding common irritants. Coffee, tea, soda, alcohol, and artificial sweeteners can stimulate bladder contractions. Substituting water often makes a noticeable difference.
- Maintaining a healthy weight. Extra pressure on the abdomen can increase urinary urgency. Even modest weight loss may help reduce symptoms.
Pelvic Floor Muscle Strength and Coordination
The pelvic floor muscles act as a support sling for the bladder and urethra. When they’re weak, overactive, or poorly coordinated, you may feel more urgency or experience leakage. Pelvic floor muscle training helps you strengthen and gain control over these muscles. When performed correctly, these exercises allow you to contract the pelvic floor at the first sign of an urge and suppress it until the bladder relaxes.
Working with a pelvic floor physical therapist can make a big difference. They can identify whether your muscles are tight or weak and teach you the correct technique for exercises such as Kegels. In some cases, biofeedback or electrical stimulation devices are used to help you visualize and improve muscle coordination.
Medications that Calm an Overactive Bladder
If bladder training alone isn’t enough, medication can help relax the bladder muscle. The two main classes of oral medication are:
- Anticholinergics, which reduce involuntary contractions that cause urgency
- Beta-3 agonists, which stimulate receptors that relax the bladder muscle
Your doctor will help you weigh the pros and cons of each medication therapy. For some people, a combination of behavioral therapy and medication offers the best results.
Nerve Stimulation for Balancing Communication
When lifestyle changes and medications don’t work to fully resolve symptoms, a non-surgical nerve stimulation therapy can help normalize bladder activity. It does this by restoring proper communication between nerves and the bladder muscle.
Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) is a simple, in-office treatment. It’s done by using a fine needle placed near the ankle to deliver mild electrical pulses. These pulses travel along the nerve pathway that influences bladder control, “resetting” the nerves. Each session lasts about 30 minutes, typically once a week for several weeks. Many people describe it as comfortable and relaxing, similar to acupuncture.
Explore OAB Treatment Options
You don’t have to accept frequent bathroom trips or leakage as unavoidable. If OAB is affecting your quality of life, a urologist can create a personalized plan that begins with non-surgical options. For many, these approaches are all that’s needed to regain comfort and control.
Learn more about OAB treatment options in the greater Eugene-Springfield, OR area – call (541) 334-3350 to schedule an appointment today!