What is overactive bladder (OAB)?
With OAB, the bladder muscle squeezes too often. Or when you don't want it to. This can cause frequent, strong sudden urges to go. You may even have accidents.
About OAB
Overactive bladder (OAB) is a real medical condition. It's more common than you may think. Over 33 million men and women in the United States have OAB. That's 1 in 6 adults.
With OAB, the bladder muscle squeezes too often. Or when you don't want it to. This can cause frequent, strong sudden urges to go. This is also known as "urgency."
OAB is not necessarily a normal part of aging. While prevalence increases as you get older, the truth is that OAB can affect anyone at any age. People can get symptoms in their early 30s or 40s, or at an even younger age. The good news is the symptoms of OAB can often be treated.
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Please choose one answer for each question
Please tell us if you are:| Not at all | A little bit | Somewhat | Quite a bit | A great deal | Very much | ||
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How bothered have you been by frequent urination during the daytime hours? | ||||||
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How bothered have you been by an uncomfortable urge to urinate? | ||||||
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How bothered have you been by a sudden urge to urinate with little or no warning? | ||||||
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How bothered have you been by accidental loss of small amounts of urine? | ||||||
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How bothered have you been by nighttime urination? | ||||||
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How bothered have you been by waking up at night because you had to urinate? | ||||||
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How bothered have you been by an uncontrollable urge to urinate? | ||||||
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How bothered have you been by urine loss associated with a strong desire to urinate? | ||||||
Your Score:
Discuss your quiz results with your doctor. Only your doctor can determine for sure if you have overactive bladder (OAB).
If you plan to talk with your doctor about your symptoms, you could open the conversation with phrases like:
- I have to go all the time. Sometimes without warning — I see my friends less because of it.
- I miss being active. I don't go places if it will be hard to find a bathroom.
- I'm frustrated at work because I'm always rushing to the bathroom.
- I feel like I no longer have full control over my bladder — sometimes it leaks before I can get to the bathroom.
If your doctor says you have overactive bladder, you may want to ask:
- What do you think is causing my OAB symptoms?
- Are my OAB symptoms treatable?
- Could medication help my OAB symptoms?
- Will medication cure my problem?
- Is there any reason I shouldn't take an OAB medication?
- What can I expect from treatment?
- Might Toviaz work for me?
- How long will it take for Toviaz to work?
- How long will I have to take Toviaz?
- What are the side effects of Toviaz?
- What else can I do to manage my symptoms?
- Can you recommend lifestyle changes that might help my OAB symptoms?
- Should I make any dietary changes?
- Is there anything I can do to make my pelvic floor muscles stronger?
Your OAB doctor discussion guide
Your Score:
The score you've received is not a diagnosis. Only your doctor can determine for sure if you have overactive bladder (OAB). It can be difficult talking with your doctor about OAB. These conversation starters and questions can help make your discussion a little easier. Bring them to your next appointment. Remember, these are just suggestions and may not apply to everyone. You may also come up with your own to share with your doctor.
If you plan to talk with your doctor about your symptoms, you could open the conversation with phrases like:
- I have to go all the time. Sometimes without warning — I see my friends less because of it.
- I miss being active. I don't go places if it will be hard to find a bathroom.
- I'm frustrated at work because I'm always rushing to the bathroom.
- I feel like I no longer have full control over my bladder — sometimes it leaks before I can get to the bathroom.
If your doctor says you have overactive bladder, you may want to ask:
- What do you think is causing my OAB symptoms?
- Are my OAB symptoms treatable?
- Could medication help my OAB symptoms?
- Will medication cure my problem?
- Is there any reason I shouldn't take an OAB medication?
- What can I expect from treatment?
- Might Toviaz work for me?
- How long will it take for Toviaz to work?
- How long will I have to take Toviaz?
- What are the side effects of Toviaz?
- What else can I do to manage my symptoms?
- Can you recommend lifestyle changes that might help my OAB symptoms?
- Should I make any dietary changes?
- Is there anything I can do to make my pelvic floor muscles stronger?
This is how you answered the overactive bladder (OAB) Symptom Quiz:
How bothered have you been by...
Your answers...frequent urination during the daytime hours?
...an uncomfortable urge to urinate?
...a sudden urge to urinate with little to no warning?
...accidental loss of small amounts of urine?
...nighttime urination?
...waking up at night because you had to urinate?
...an uncontrollable urge to urinate?
...urine loss associated with a strong desire to urinate?
To the doctor: Pfizer has developed the OAB-V8,1 an 8-question awareness-raising tool. This tool is designed to be a conversation facilitator to help you and your patients discuss bothersome OAB symptoms, the possible cause of such symptoms, and potential treatments. The tool is intended to be a complement to - not a replacement for - the clinical diagnosis of OAB.
This awareness tool was tested in a representative population of 1,260 patients. Patients answered these questions during their regularly scheduled appointments in primary-care or gynecology practices. Although the OAB-V8 is not a diagnostic tool, patients who scored greater than 8 were much more likely to have a clinical diagnosis of OAB.*
Reference:
1 Coyne KS, Zyczynski T, Margolis MK, Elinoff V, Roberts RG. Validation of an overactive bladder awareness tool for use in primary care settings. Adv Ther. 2005;22(4):381-394.
*A supplementary analysis determined that men reported less bother from OAB symptoms of equal severity than did women. To adjust for this, 2 points are added to men's scores so that a score of 8 or greater in either gender corresponds to an increased likelihood of a clinical diagnosis of OAB.
Toviaz® (fesoterodine fumarate) treats the symptoms of overactive bladder (leaks, strong sudden urges to go, going too often).
Important Safety Information
If you have certain stomach problems, glaucoma, or cannot empty your bladder, youshould not take Toviaz.
Medicines like Toviaz can cause blurred vision, drowsiness, and decreased sweating. Use caution when driving, doing unsafe tasks, or in especially hot environments, until you know how Toviaz affects you. Drinking alcohol while taking medicines such as Toviaz may cause increased drowsiness.
The most common side effects are dry mouth and constipation.
Toviaz has benefits and risks. There may be other options. For more information, visit Toviaz.com.
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