Approximately 33 million American men and women struggle with overactive bladder, but Pacific Northwest Urology Specialists can help. The experienced team of urologists in Bellingham, Washington, offers the most advanced and innovative treatments available for urological issues, including overactive bladder. If your bladder is waking you up at night or causing you to run to the bathroom, call Pacific Northwest Urology Specialists or schedule an appointment online today.
Overactive bladder is a condition that affects many men and women, and its most common symptom is the urgent need to urinate. Additional signs of overactive bladder include:
Overactive bladder can negatively affect your life simply because you can be afraid to ever be too far from a toilet.
This form of urinary incontinence can have several causes, including:
These changes can cause a miscommunication with your nerve signals, brain, and bladder. When this occurs, your bladder muscle receives the signal to contract even when you don’t have to void.
During your appointment, your Pacific Northwest Urology Specialists provider discusses your symptoms, reviews your medical history, and performs a physical exam. They might also request a urine sample to look for abnormalities, like blood or signs of infection.
Based on your diagnosis, your urologist can provide a variety of treatments. For men experiencing overactive bladder because of an enlarged prostate, they have specific medications and therapies to provide relief from symptoms.
In many cases, the first line of defense against overactive bladder involves exercises designed to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles as well as your urinary sphincter. These exercises can help you improve your muscle tone and strength to stop your bladder from contracting involuntarily.
The team at Pacific Northwest Urology Specialists also offers prescription medications and Botox® that calm your bladder muscle. They also provide InterStim® therapy, a treatment that uses gentle electrical pulses to improve communication between your brain and nerves to help relax your bladder. Both of these treatments are typically more effective than medications.
To find help for overactive bladder, call Pacific Northwest Urology Specialists or schedule an appointment online today.
