OAB and Voiding Dysfunction

Overactive bladder, OAB, is not a disease. It is a name for a group of urinary symptoms including frequency, urgency, and leaking of urine or incontinence. As many as 30 percent of men and 40 percent of women in the United States live with OAB symptoms. OAB can affect your social life, work, exercise, and sleep. Jersey Urology strives to identify the cause of your troublesome urinary symptoms and treat them so you can get back to living your life. 

OAB is not a normal part of getting older.  OAB is not caused by something you did. It occurs when nerves are affected. These nerves send signals to your bladder at the wrong time causing it to squeeze making you feel like you have to void frequently or urgently or to leak. There are treatments to help people manage OAB symptoms whether minor or severe. If you are bothered by OAB symptoms, then you should ask for treatment! Jersey Urology offers the following minimally invasive options if medications have failed or you don’t want to take them.

BOTOX®

BOTOX® injection into the bladder is well known to treat overactive bladder and urge incontinence. The procedure is done as an outpatient in the hospital or surgery center. BOTOX® has been proven to work when medications did not. It usually lasts for about 6 months which is why it has to be done, on average, twice a year. Most patients notice a difference within 2 weeks with full results seen at about 12 weeks. BOTOX® is covered by Medicare and Medicaid and many private insurances.

InterStim

InterStim is an FDA approved, reversible, treatment for overactive bladder and non-obstructive urinary retention. InterStim is a small implantable device that sends mild electrical impulses to your sacral nerves to decrease symptoms of your bladder control problems. This is an outpatient procedure done at the hospital or surgery center. The device is MRI compatible.

OVERACTIVE BLADDER

FAQ

Bladder control problems affect tens of millions of people every day. If you’re one of them, you should speak up.

Does this sound familiar?

  • Urinating more than 8 times a day.

  • Avoiding social events

  • Using pads to control leaks

OAB Facts

  • OAB is extremely common.

  • 1 in 6 adults has OAB, or 43 million adults in the U.S.1,2

  • 4.5 out of 10 adults don’t seek help for overactive bladder3

Ignoring OAB Poses Risks

People with undiagnosed OAB reported:3

  • 54% loss of confidence

  • 49% loss of self-esteem

  • 45% loss of intimacy

You Are Not Alone – Find Relief for Bladder Control Problems

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a treatable condition. It’s not a normal part of aging. And you shouldn’t have to deal with it on your own.

  • You can try it before you decide, and it’s reversible if you change your mind later. And unlike injections, it doesn’t require self catheterization or repeated treatment visits.

  • It may significantly reduce symptoms in people who have frequent urges to urinate or related frequent leaks or are unable to fully empty their bladder. *

  • No. It can be effective, but it’s not a cure. If the neurostimulator is turned off or removed, symptoms can return.

  • Most people describe the stimulation sensation as a tingling, flutter, or vibration in the pelvic area. It should not be painful. Stimulation settings can be adjusted, and sensations will vary from person to person.

  • People with an InterStim™ system can have a full-body‡ MRI scan under certain conditions. Your doctor will determine whether you meet those conditions.

  • Medicare and many private insurance companies cover this therapy. Talk to your doctor to learn more about your insurance coverage.