Question:
I hear a lot of different terms to describe urinary incontinence, and some of them are so similar that it can get pretty confusing. In particular, I was wondering what the difference is between a small bladder and an overactive bladder?
Answer:
This is such a good question! When it comes to the medical field, we’re really great at naming things that other doctors can understand but that aren’t always easy for laypeople to make sense of. This is not one of those times. That’s because there’s actually no such thing as a small bladder!
Anatomically, everyone’s bladder is the same. What’s different is the way the bladder functions. You may think you have a small bladder because it doesn’t seem like you can hold a lot of urine, but the reason doesn’t have anything to do with its size. Instead, you’re not able to hold a lot of urine because the muscle walls of the bladder go through sudden, involuntary contractions. The bladder muscle becomes overactive, giving you the urge that you always have to pee.
Those sudden urges, along with the frequent need to find a bathroom, urgency that causes involuntary leaks, and nocturia – that is, having to go multiple times at night – are all symptoms of what we call overactive bladder or OAB.
Risk factors for OAB include nervous system abnormalities such as spinal cord injuries, dementia, stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, multiple sclerosis, and other nerve trauma or damage. Other causes can include urinary tract infections, bladder stones, bladder cancer, and an enlarged prostate. Obesity and diabetes also increase the risk of having OAB.
You should note that the risk of overactive bladder increases with age. Women are more likely to have it than men due to weaker pelvic floor muscles caused by menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause. Despite the increasing prevalence as we get on in years, however, OAB is not a normal part of the aging process, and we have a number of highly effective treatments to help you overcome your symptoms.
Sources:
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Eilber, MD, K. (2015). What is the Difference Between a Small Bladder and an …. [online] EmpowHER. Available at:http://www.empowher.com/overactive-bladder/content/what-difference-between-small-bladder-and-overactive-bladder-dr- [Accessed 6 Apr. 2015]
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Arnold, J., McLeod, N., Thani-Gasalam, R. and Rachid, P. (2012). RACGP – Overactive bladder syndrome –management and treatment options. [online] Racgp.org.au. Available at:http://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2012/november/overactive-bladder-syndrome/
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2 Responses
I had a doctor who specializes in Urology & Gynecology tell me I have a small bladder. He filled my bladder with as much saline it could hold and told me it was only about the size of a baseball. I’ve had bladder issues since I was a small child and had been to multiple doctors over the years. Most of the time I have to pee every 10 minutes or less. I’m on overactive bladder medication and really don’t see a difference.
You people are really “full” of yourself. Really? No such thing as a small bladder? I’ve had people try to convince me for years that it was all in my head. Well, I’ve had numerous tests run including filling my bladder with saline and measuring how much it can hold. I’ve had ultrasounds done, CT scans and finally a dr said, “You just have a physically small bladder. I also have one kidney smaller than the other, recent HIDA scan shows my gallbladder is only at 22% ejection rate. I have been diagnosed with gastroparesis, IBS, Acid reflux, LES and pyloric valve malfunctioning, have had double inguinal along with umbilical hernia repairs. Hemorrhoid surgery. I have a small build, small bone structure. I’m soon to be 68 years old. 7th of 9 kids. I’m 3rd of 3 born in a very short time period. my brother b4 me was premature.
I was born 1957, in 1975 they did a kidney test with Iodine IVP for contrast, don’t remember exactly why it was done at that time but was told the one kidney is smaller than the other. My Dr said I probably had an infection when I was little, that’s all. Could I be one of the kids that my mom had nausea, and was prescribed the anti-nausea medication that caused birth defects? I saw an episode of “Call the Midwives” and several subsequent episodes mentioning all kinds of birth defects from Thalidomide? Close friend of my mom had a child born with a foot and no leg, Did they both take it? Or could malnourishment be a cause?
Please tell me I’m not imagining all of this.