Stopping the Urge to Go: Overactive Bladder Treatment

The frequent, sudden urge to urinate can be more than just an inconvenience. For many people, this urge dictates their schedules and, indeed, their entire lives. Fortunately, modern urology offers a number of excellent treatments for people with overactive bladders, giving them the opportunity to regain control over their daily routines.

At the practice of award-winning, internationally renowned urologist Y. Mark Hong in Phoenix, overactive bladder treatment is available to those who suffer from this irritating, frustrating condition. Dr. Hong customizes overactive bladder treatment to address the unique symptoms and needs of each individual patient. Your path to managing your frequent urge to urinate can begin with a consultation and simple evaluation at Dr. Hong’s state-of-the-art office.

The Initial Evaluation

Before Dr. Hong can arrive at a plan that will be most effective at treating your particular condition, he must first perform an evaluation. During this evaluation, he will ask you to describe your symptoms and ask you a series of questions including:

• How often you feel the sudden urge to urinate during the day
• Whether you involuntarily urinate immediately after feeling that urge
• How many times you urinate during a typical day
• How many times you awaken at night to urinate
• How much caffeine you consume in a typical day

He will also take a thorough health history, including which medications you take. Certain medications can cause your body to produce urine more rapidly. Likewise, certain conditions - including Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, urinary tract infections, enlarged prostate, and stroke - can contribute to an overactive bladder.

In many cases, a single cause or combination of causes can be identified as being responsible for an overactive bladder. In some cases, however, a definitive cause cannot be pinpointed. In addition to tracking your symptoms, Dr. Hong will use advanced diagnostic tests in his attempt to determine the cause of your condition.

Treating Overactive Bladder

Based on the results of your evaluation, Dr. Hong will prescribe a course of treatment, beginning with the most conservative solution that is likely to produce the best possible results given your specific case. Overactive bladder treatments can be divided into three basic categories:

• Non-surgical treatments: These treatments include behavioral therapies, such as training your bladder by scheduling your trips to the toilet, and pelvic floor exercises that enable you to exert improved control over the voiding of your bladder. Dr. Hong may also suggest lifestyle changes as part of your treatment plan, including the elimination of caffeine from your diet and limiting the amount of fluids you consume, especially before bedtime.
• Medicinal therapies: There are several medications that can effectively help to relieve the symptoms of overactive bladder and give you improved control over the voiding of your bladder.
• Surgical treatments: Most cases of over active bladder can be effectively controlled with lifestyle modifications or medications. When you do not respond to these measures, a minimally invasive procedure may be helpful. Dr. Hong offers a variety of procedures to treat overactive bladder and urge incontinence, including UrgentPC tibial nerve stimulation, Botox injection of the bladder, and Interstim neuromodulation. A dicussion with Dr. Hong in person will help you understand whether you are a candidate for these therapies and whether they are the right treatment for you.

Learn More about Overactive Bladder Treatment

If you suffer from an overactive bladder and would like to learn more about your treatment options, we encourage you to contact the practice of Y. Mark Hong, M.D. today.