Underactive Bladder Treatment

When you suffer from an underactive bladder, your body is essentially failing to tell you when your bladder is full. More commonly known as a neurogenic bladder, this condition is more of a problem with the nerves of this organ than with anything else. If communication between your brain and your bladder is disrupted in any way, your body may not feel the building pressure of urine that often indicates that it's time to empty your bladder. Not only does this cause a decrease in urine frequency, it also can produce urine leakage and urinary tract infections, making treatment necessary.

Medications

• While treatment often is dependent on factors such as age, health, symptoms and cause of the condition, the first line of defense with an underactive bladder is usually some type of medication. Bethanechol is probably the most common prescription medication used for treatment of an underactive bladder because it possesses the innate ability to stimulate the nerves of your bladder, making them more responsive to stimulus.

Catheterization

• If a prescription medication fails to produce results, you may be given the option of catheterization, which is the use of a tube to manually drain urine from the bladder. With an underactive bladder, it isn't uncommon to intermittently utilize catheterization. In this method, you're responsible for inserting the catheter at regular times throughout the day to evacuate your urine. It also is possible, however, to have an "indwelling" catheter put in that continually removes urine from the body, but this method isn't standard procedure for an underactive bladder.

Stimulation

• Sometimes, a form of nerve stimulation can help remedy an underactive bladder. With this type of procedure, a wire is inserted near your tibial or sacral nerves where impulses are emitted to help stimulate your bladder. Not everyone responds favorably to this method of treatment, but it still can help remedy the condition for some people.

Surgery

• Because not everyone wants to use a catheter or nerve stimulation to empty the bladder, you may decide that surgery is the best option for you. When this approach is chosen, a cuff or stent is placed around or in the neck of your bladder to help with the emptying and leakage of your urine. For most people, placement of the cuff or stent stops accidents but doesn't actually change the sensation of fullness or the communication between their bladder and their brain.