What Is Overactive Bladder?
Overactive bladder (OAB) is a syndrome of urinary urgency — a sudden, compelling need to pass urine — usually with frequency and waking at night, and sometimes with urge leakage (urgency incontinence). It results from the bladder muscle contracting when it shouldn't. It becomes more common with age but is not a normal, untreatable part of ageing.
Other types of incontinence (e.g. stress incontinence with coughing/sneezing) are managed differently, so accurate assessment matters.
Treatment Options
- Lifestyle & bladder training: Timed voiding, reducing caffeine/alcohol, fluid management, and pelvic floor exercises — effective first-line measures.
- Medication: Anticholinergics or beta-3 agonists (e.g. mirabegron) calm bladder overactivity.
- Bladder Botox: Injected into the bladder wall to reduce overactivity when medication fails.
- Nerve stimulation (PTNS / sacral neuromodulation): For refractory cases.
When to See a Specialist
See a doctor if urgency, frequency or leakage affects your daily life or sleep, or if there's pain or blood in the urine (which needs separate assessment). A urologist or urogynaecologist can identify the type of bladder problem and tailor treatment.
Living Well With OAB
Most people improve significantly with a combination of bladder training and medication. Keeping a bladder diary helps your doctor tailor treatment and track progress.
Frequently Asked Questions
See who practises in this field: subspecialty focus, credentials and clinic websites, checked against public records.
Browse urologists →A consultation with tests is roughly S$150–S$500. Medication is an ongoing monthly cost. Bladder Botox is roughly S$2,000–S$4,000+ per treatment (repeated periodically). Subsidised rates apply at public hospitals. Medically indicated treatment is Medisave-claimable where applicable.
While it becomes more common with age, overactive bladder is a treatable medical condition, not something you simply have to live with. Most people improve substantially with bladder training, lifestyle changes and medication.
Overactive bladder causes a sudden urge to urinate (urgency), sometimes with leakage. Stress incontinence is leakage on coughing, sneezing or exertion, due to weak support. They have different treatments, so accurate diagnosis is important.
Yes — for overactive bladder that doesn't respond to medication, Botox injected into the bladder wall reduces overactivity and is effective for many people. The effect is temporary and the treatment is repeated periodically.
General information only — not medical advice. Always verify a doctor’s SMC registration and discuss your individual circumstances with a qualified specialist.