Overactive Bladder Specialist

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a common medical condition affecting millions worldwide. It can be an embarrassing and uncomfortable issue to live with, but there are treatments and lifestyle modifications that can help make life easier for those suffering from OAB.

If you have questions regarding your frequency of urination and/or an overactive bladder, contact the expert urologists at Urology of Greater Atlanta.

Our team can provide state-of-the-art testing to diagnose your condition and personalized treatments to relieve your symptoms and restore your urinary health.

You don’t need to limit your life because of your urinary needs. Call one of our offices in Georgia or schedule a consultation online today!

What Is an Overactive Bladder?

An overactive bladder is a urinary condition characterized by frequent, sudden, and urgent needs to urinate. It can be hard to control or stop and can make everyday events stressful or impossible, as you feel like you must be close to a bathroom at all times.

If you have an overactive bladder, you urinate several times, typically eight or more, every day. You also most likely wake up multiple times throughout the night to use the bathroom.

What Causes an Overactive Bladder?

Your urinary function starts in your kidneys, which filter waste products out of your blood. Your kidneys send the liquid waste through the ureters to your bladder.

As your bladder becomes full, it sends nerve signals to your brain, letting you know it’s time to empty. When you urinate, you relax the muscles around your bladder and urethra to release urine.

Overactive bladder symptoms occur because of abnormal muscle activity in your pelvic floor, particularly around your bladder.

Some of the factors that contribute to an overactive bladder include:

• Neurological disorders
• Diabetes
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Menopause-related hormonal changes
• Abnormalities in your bladder, such as tumors, bladder stones, or spasms
• Urine flow obstructions, like enlarged prostate, prostate cancer, incontinence treatments

While your risk of developing an overactive bladder increases with age, it’s not a normal part of aging. It’s best not to ignore abnormalities or changes in your urinary habits as your symptoms may become progressively worse or be a sign of a more severe health problem.

What Treatments Are Available for an Overactive Bladder?

The team at Urology of Greater Atlanta begins with a thorough exam and testing to identify the specific condition causing your symptoms. They often use a urodynamic test to assess how the bladder is releasing urine and when.

Your doctor might combine urodynamic testing with cystoscopy, a procedure in which a thin tube affixed with a small camera is inserted into the urethra to examine the bladder’s lining.

Once your urologist understands your condition and its cause, they create a customized treatment plan to restore your normal bladder function and relieve your symptoms.

Today there are more viable options than ever before to treat and manage an overactive bladder. Bladder training and oral medications can help relax the bladder and decrease the urge to urinate as often. 

BOTOXⓇ injections directly into the bladder can partially paralyze muscles to relieve the feeling of constantly having to urinate.

Our doctors may also recommend using eCoin. It is a neuromodulation device for treating Urge Urinary Incontinence (UUI). This coin-sized implant delivers automatic stimulation to the tibial nerve, providing effortless therapy for UUI without the need for drugs or invasive procedures. Placed near the ankle in a minimally invasive procedure, eCoin offers safe and effective relief, significantly improving the quality of life for patients suffering from bladder control issues.

Other options include:

• Uroplasty: a series of 12 weekly 30-minute in-office treatments that use mild electrical impulses to reduce the frequency and urgency of urination
• InTone®: a device that uses noninvasive electrical stimulation and biofeedback to strengthen pelvic floor muscles
• InterStim™: a small device implanted under the skin of one of the upper buttocks that gently stimulates the sacral nerves to facilitate proper bladder function

Seeking Help for Your Overactive Bladder

Call or book an appointment online with Urology of Greater Atlanta to learn more about overactive bladder and the many treatments available.

We have many convenient locations throughout Georgia. Our skilled urologists are ready to help.