Kelly Burch is a New Hampshire-based freelance journalist writing about finances, health, family, and more. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, and Forbes, among others. Follow her on If you have unusual urges to urinate, your health care provider will check to make sure that you don't have an infection or blood in your urine. Your provider may also want to make sure that you're emptying your bladder completely when you urinate. Show
Your provider will look for clues that might also indicate contributing factors. Your appointment will likely include a:
Tests of bladder functionYour provider may recommend tests to assess how well your bladder is functioning and its ability to empty steadily and completely (urodynamic tests). These tests usually require a referral to a specialist, but testing may not be necessary to make a diagnosis or begin treatment. Urodynamic tests include:
Your doctor will review the results of any tests with you and suggest a treatment strategy. Care at Mayo ClinicOur caring team of Mayo Clinic experts can help you with your overactive bladder-related health concerns Start Here More Information
TreatmentA combination of treatment strategies may be the best approach to relieve overactive bladder symptoms. Behavioral therapiesFemale pelvic floor muscles Open pop-up dialog boxClose Female pelvic floor musclesFemale pelvic floor musclesA woman's pelvic floor muscles work like a hammock to support the pelvic organs, including the uterus, bladder and rectum. Kegel exercises can help strengthen these muscles. Male pelvic floor muscles Open pop-up dialog boxClose Male pelvic floor musclesMale pelvic floor musclesThe pelvic floor muscles support the bladder and bowel and affect sexual function. Kegel exercises can help strengthen these muscles. Behavioral interventions are the first choice in helping manage an overactive bladder. They're often effective, and they carry no side effects. Behavioral interventions may include:
MedicationsAfter menopause, vaginal estrogen therapy can help strengthen the muscles and tissues in the urethra and vaginal area. Vaginal estrogen comes in the form of cream, suppository, tablet, or ring, and can significantly improve symptoms of overactive bladder. Medications that relax the bladder can be helpful for relieving symptoms of overactive bladder and reducing episodes of urge incontinence. These drugs include:
Common side effects of most of these drugs include dry eyes and dry mouth, but drinking water to quench thirst can aggravate symptoms of overactive bladder. Constipation — another potential side effect — can aggravate your bladder symptoms. Extended-release forms of these medications, including the skin patch or gel, may cause fewer side effects. Your doctor may recommend that you sip small amounts of water or suck on a piece of sugar-free candy or chew sugar-free gum to relieve dry mouth, and use eyedrops to keep your eyes moist. Over-the-counter preparations, such as Biotene products, can be helpful for long-term dry mouth. To avoid constipation, your doctor might recommend a fiber-rich diet or use of stool softeners. Bladder injectionsOnabotulinumtoxinA (ON-ah-boch-yoo-lih-num-tox-in-A), also called Botox, is a protein from the bacteria that cause botulism illness. Used in small doses directly injected into bladder tissues, this protein relaxes the muscles. Studies show that it may be useful for severe urge incontinence. The temporary effects generally last six months or more, but repeat injections are necessary. Side effects from these injections include urinary tract infections and urinary retention. If you're considering Botox treatments, you should be willing and able to catheterize yourself if urinary retention occurs. Nerve stimulationSacral nerve stimulation device Open pop-up dialog boxClose Sacral nerve stimulation deviceSacral nerve stimulation deviceDuring sacral nerve stimulation, a surgically implanted device delivers electrical impulses to the nerves that regulate bladder activity. These are called the sacral nerves. The unit is placed under the skin in the lower back, about where the back pocket is on a pair of pants. In this image, the device is shown out of place to allow a better view of the unit. Regulating the nerve impulses to your bladder can improve overactive bladder symptoms. One procedure uses a thin wire placed close to the sacral nerves — which carry signals to your bladder — where they pass near your tailbone. This minimally invasive procedure is often done with a trial of a temporary wire implanted under the skin in your lower back. Sometimes it may be done as an advanced procedure in which the permanent electrode is implanted and a longer trial is performed. Your doctor then uses a hand-held device connected to the wire to deliver electrical impulses to your bladder, similar to what a pacemaker does for the heart. If it helps with your symptoms, a permanent, battery-powered pulse generator is surgically implanted to help regulate the nerve rhythm. Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS)This procedure uses a thin needle that is placed through the skin near your ankle to send electrical stimulation from a nerve in your leg (tibial nerve) to your spine, where it connects with the nerves that control the bladder. PTNS treatments are delivered once a week for 12 weeks to help treat symptoms of overactive bladder. You will likely need maintenance treatments every three to four weeks to keep symptoms under control. SurgerySurgery to treat overactive bladder is reserved for people with severe symptoms who don't respond to other treatments. The goal is to improve the bladder's ability to store urine and reduce pressure in the bladder. However, these procedures won't help relieve bladder pain. These procedures include:
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Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic Clinical trialsExplore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition. Lifestyle and home remediesThese lifestyle strategies may reduce overactive bladder symptoms:
Alternative medicineNo complementary or alternative therapies have been proved to successfully treat overactive bladder. Research has suggested that acupuncture might help ease the symptoms of overactive bladder. Acupuncture practitioners treat you using extremely thin, disposable needles. Complementary treatments may not be covered by insurance, so check with your insurance company first. Coping and supportLiving with overactive bladder can be difficult. Consumer education and advocacy support groups such as the National Association for Continence can provide you with online resources and information, connecting you with people who experience overactive bladder and urge incontinence. Support groups offer the opportunity to voice concerns, learn new coping strategies and stay motivated to maintain self-care strategies. Educating your family and friends about overactive bladder and your experiences with it may help you establish your own support network and reduce feelings of embarrassment. Once you start talking about it, you may be surprised to learn how common this condition really is. Preparing for your appointmentFor overactive bladder, you're likely to start by seeing your primary doctor. After your initial appointment, you may be referred to a specialist in urinary disorders in men and women (urologist), a specialist in urinary disorders in women (urogynecologist), or a specialist in physical therapy for diagnosis and treatment. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor. What you can do
For overactive bladder, basic questions might include:
What to expect from your doctorYour doctor may use an overactive bladder questionnaire to make an assessment of your symptoms, asking questions such as:
By Mayo Clinic Staff Overactive bladder care at Mayo Clinic Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic Symptoms & causesDoctors & departments May 03, 2022 Share on: FacebookTwitter Show references
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AdvertisementMayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. How do you stop the feeling of having to pee?What if you really need to hold your pee?. Do a task that will actively engage your brain, such as a game or crossword puzzle.. Listen to music.. Stay sitting if you are already sitting.. Read a book.. Scroll through social media on your phone.. Keep warm, since being cold can give you the urge to urinate.. How do I stop the urge to pee without peeing?How to stop frequent urination. Avoiding drinking fluids before bed.. Cutting back on alcohol, caffeine, artificial sweeteners and acidic foods or beverages.. Doing pelvic floor exercises (like Kegels) to help build your pelvic muscle strength and health.. Why do I feel like I have to pee after I already peed?Do you have a urinary tract infection? UTIs can commonly cause urinary frequency. You may urinate small amounts and then feel like you have to urinate right after you've gone. These can also cause pain with urination, and your urine may have a different odor and color.
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