There are some bladder symptoms that you might have heard referred to as overactive bladder, irritable bladder or a sensitive or weak bladder. Symptoms you may experience include a sudden uncontrolled urge to pass urine with or without urinary leakage. If you do leak urine before you reach the toilet this is called urinary urge incontinence. Other symptoms can include urinary frequency which is going more often than you think is normal and nocturia which is troublesome waking to pass urine overnight.
The function of our bladder is to store urine without any discomfort and alerting us when it becomes full. It should allow us to hold on until a socially convenient time and place to empty. A normal bladder will empty between 6-8 times per day holding around 300-500mls of urine each time. Between the ages of 60 and 80 it is normal to pass urine once overnight and this increases to twice per night over the age of 80.
Urgency and Frequency can be affected by certain medical conditions or surgery but there are also many modifiable lifestyle factors that can improve your symptoms.
Urinary Urgency and Frequency
Do you feel that you are going to the toilet too often? Are you planning your day around the toilet? Do you worry about making it to the toilet in time? Urinary urgency is a sudden, strong or uncontrolled need to pass urine. Daytime frequency is a need to pass urine more often than you feel is normal and nocturia is waking overnight to pass urine. If you leak urine before you reach the toilet this is called urinary urge incontinence. Often there are only a few seconds between feeling the need to pass urine and leakage. It may be triggered by a sudden change of position, the sound of running water or when you reach your front door.
Introductory Video
What Next?
Please see our section below on How to Improve your Symptoms but also visit our Lifestyle & Physical Activity Section
