Welcome to BladderProblem.co.uk, the UK web resource for people living with overactive bladder, a common condition affecting hundreds of thousands of people in this country.
Before you begin, it’s important to know that there are many different causes of bladder problems. If you haven’t been diagnosed with overactive bladder it’s essential you do not try to diagnose or manage a bladder problem without speaking with your doctor.
Overactive bladder (OAB) is common. It is not due simply to poor health or getting older but is caused by the bladder muscle, known as the detrusor muscle contracting involuntarily. It affects approximately 2.3 million people over the age of 40 in the UK.2,3
Overactive bladder (OAB) is a medical problem that affects the way your bladder behaves. OAB is an involuntary and sudden contraction or squeezing of the muscle in the wall of the bladder. Common symptoms include:
Urgency
a sudden, strong urge to empty the bladder quickly
Frequency
going to the toilet more often than you did before
Nocturia
being woken at night several times to go to the toilet
If you think you may be experiencing a bladder control problem, try the questionnaire below. It is designed to help you describe any feelings of bladder problems to your doctor as part of a medical consultation. You should always speak with a medical professional about any health concerns you have.
Based on:
Design and Validation of a New Screening Instrument for Lower Urinary Tract (LUT) Dysfunction: The Bladder Control Self-Assessment Questionnaire (B-SAQ), European Urology (2007), doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2006.11.0154
Validation of the bladder control self-assessment questionnaire (B-SAQ) in men, Functional Urology (2013), https://doi.org/10.1111/bju.125215
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR USE:
The Bladder Problem Questionnaire is suitable for adults 18+ years only. It does not constitute a medical device or substitute professional medical advice, professional diagnosis, service, treatment or monitoring of any condition.
If you feel any discomfort or have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult a healthcare professional.
B-SAQ has been assessed in controlled clinical studies in people who had already identified they may have LUTS and/or urinary incontinence and and sought healthcare advice. In an independent review B-SAQ was found to meet the criterion for
use by non-clinical staff and respondents as part of public health activity.6 Differences in results between men and women have been described. The questionnaire, in this
setting, has been utilised to help people describe their symptoms and level of bother to a healthcare professional as part of a discussion about bladder health.
No personal data is being stored or shared to third parties.
Your OAB is with you wherever you go, and can be particularly problematic when you are travelling. We have curated some tips on how to manage your symptoms, whatever your circumstances.
There are a number of treatment options that can help reduce symptoms to a manageable level. Your doctor/nurse will determine the most appropriate treatment options for you.
If you would like to print out information about OAB we have included downloadable booklets for you below. These can be useful if you want to keep this information close to hand or share it with someone you know!
