Overactive bladder or OAB is a condition where a person experiences a frequent urge for urination. The patient might also experience urinary incontinence or the loss of bladder control. As a result, they may involuntarily leak urine while coughing or sneezing. The problem can affect anyone but is more common among older people. So, what are the main causes of overactive bladder? Let’s find out.

Causes of an overactive bladder
Many factors can contribute to an overactive bladder, such as underlying health conditions, lifestyle habits, physical conditions, age, and so on. The cause of the disease may be one or a combination of these. Here, we discuss the three leading causes of an overactive bladder in detail.

1. Pelvic organ prolapse
A woman’s pelvic region consists of various organs, such as the rectum, vagina, bladder, and uterus. Several factors can weaken the muscles and tissues of these organs, such as aging, constipation, childbirth, and obesity. When these organs become weak, it can lead to pelvic organ prolapse and cause an overactive bladder.

Besides the loss of bladder control, women may also experience other symptoms with pelvic organ prolapse, such as pressure in the pelvic area, painful intercourse, and vaginal bleeding. The signs usually vary depending on which pelvic organ is affected.

2. Menopause
Menopause is a woman’s final menstrual cycle. If a woman has not had her periods for 12 consecutive months, the doctor suspects that she has reached menopause. While a woman is going through menopause, or in some cases even before that, she experiences changes in the menstrual cycle, hot flashes, sleep problems, body and mood changes, vaginal changes. Besides, she may also even experience bladder control changes that lead to the risk of developing an overactive bladder.

A Chinese survey conducted on 351 women showed that 7.4 percent of candidates experienced an overactive bladder. It was also found that women who had menopause symptoms were at a higher risk of developing the problem.

3. Neurogenic bladder
This term refers to several urinary conditions in which a person loses control over their bladder. Neurogenic bladder is caused by a problem with the brain, spinal cord, or nerves. Such issues are usually triggered by conditions like multiple sclerosis, diabetes, or Parkinson’s disease. Besides, brain or spinal infection, a stroke, an injury to the spinal cord, or surgery on the pelvis can also damage the nerves.

The nerves are responsible for controlling how the bladder stores and empties the urine. When a person feels like urinating, the nerves send a signal to the bladder muscles to tighten and control urination. If there is any problem with these nerves, they cannot function properly, leading to an overactive bladder and various other urinary issues.