I am being compensated by Astellas Pharma US, Inc. for this post; however, the opinions expressed here are my own.

Overactive Bladder (or OAB) is often characterized by major symptoms such as urgency, frequency and leakage.¹

• Urgency is when you feel a strong need to pee that is difficult to control¹
• Frequency means that you need to pee too often (usually 8 or more times a day)¹
• Leakage is also known as accidentally peeing after a sudden, uncontrollable urge¹

You might have OAB:

• When your brain tells your bladder it’s time to pee before it’s full. ²
• When your bladder muscle is too active.²

Either way, your bladder muscle contracts too early, causing the bladder to empty before it should.²

OAB Facts! You are not alone!

• Approximately 46 million American adults age 40 and older experience overactive bladder symptoms at least sometimes. ³
• As few as 1 in 8 women with symptoms of overactive bladder may seek treatment. ⁴
• OAB is a diagnosable medical condition for which treatments are available.¹
  

More interesting facts from the “Peehavior” survey of 2,854 women conducted by Astellas

• Women age 55+ are more likely to not confide in anyone when it comes to frequently visiting
  the bathroom (to pee).  ⁵
• Almost half of women surveyed had used the men’s bathroom because the line for the women’s
  bathroom was too long.⁵
• 86 percent of women surveyed had peed somewhere other than a bathroom. 19 percent reported
  the most unusual place they had peed was behind the bushes. ⁵

What can I do for my OAB?

Talk of your doctor first! You may be able to make simple lifestyle modifications such as :¹

• avoiding excess caffeine
• losing weight m
• making dietary changes
• exercising pelvic muscles
• bladder training
• absorbent garments

If lifestyle and behavioral changes aren’t enough, working with your doctor to explore medication, procedures and/or surgery may be options for you.¹ Gather information and work with your doctor to find the best approach for you.

Do you think you might have Overactive Bladder (OAB)? Stop Stalling!

When you have an issue some of the best ways to deal with it is to read, ask questions of your doctor and understand research. Stop Stalling® aims to raise awareness of OAB. You can head over to StopStalling.com which provides credible information and resources to help people understand what OAB is and what management options are available. Stop Stalling® helps to educate, empower and motivate women to recognize symptoms of OAB, equip them with information about the condition and motivate them to take action by talking to their healthcare providers.

Head to StopStalling.com now for OAB information! 

References:
1. Gormley EA, Lightner DJ, Burgio KL, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of overactive bladder (non-
neurogenic) in adults: AUA/SUFU guideline. American Urological Association Education and
Research, Inc. 2014.
2. Sadananda P, Drake MJ, Paton JFR, Pickering AE. A functional analysis of the influence of β3-
adrenoceptors on the rat micturition cycle. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2013;347(2):506-15.
3. Coyne KS, Sexton CC, Vats V, Thompson C, Kopp ZS, Milsom I. National community prevalence of
overactive bladder in the United States stratified by sex and age. Urology 2011;77(5):1081-7.
4. Milsom I, Kaplan SA, Coyne KS, Sexton CC, Kopp ZS. Effect of bothersome overactive bladder
symptoms on health-related quality of life, anxiety, depression, and treatment seeking in the
United States: results from EpiLUTS. Urology 2012;80(1):90-6.
5. Astellas and Ipsos Public Affairs. Data on File.
6. Wyman JF, Burgio KL, Newman DK. Practical aspects of lifestyle modifications and behavioral
interventions in the treatment of overactive bladder and urgency urinary incontinence. Int J Clin
Pract. 2009;63(8):1177-91.
7. Bryant CM, Dowell CJ, Fairbrother G. Caffeine reduction education to improve urinary
symptoms. Br J Nurs 2002;11(8):560-5.
8. Ouslander JG. Management of overactive bladder. N Engl J Med 2004;350(8):786-99.
9. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Urinary Incontinence in
Women (07-2016). https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health- topics/urologic-
disease/urinary-incontinence- women/Pages/facts.aspx. Accessed 05-05- 2017.
10. Urology Care Foundation. What is Overactive Bladder (OAB)?
http://www. urologyhealth.org/urologicconditions/overactive-bladder- (oab)/printable-version.
Accessed 09-26- 2017.
11. Fantl JA, Wyman JF, McClish DK, et al. Efficacy of bladder training in older women with urinary
incontinence. JAMA 1991;265(5):609-13.