What are the signs and symptoms?

Take a look at these questions to help you identify your symptoms:

Do you:

• Often have a sudden urge to go to the toilet (urgency)?
• Sometimes not make it to the loo in time (urge incontinence)?
• Have to go to the toilet very often - more than eight times a day?
• Have to get up to go to the loo in the night (nocturia)?
• Ever wet the bed (nocturnal enuresis)?

These are all symptoms of an overactive bladder. However, some of these symptoms are also seen with other conditions, so it's important to check with your doctor.

Or do you:

• Leak urine when you're exercising or lifting heavy things?
• Leak urine when you sneeze or cough, or laugh loudly?
• Worry about leaking urine while you're making love?

If yes, you may have stress urinary incontinence.

Overactive bladder and stress incontinence are different from a urinary infection such as cystitis, symptoms of which include a burning pain while you're passing urine and a cloudy look to your urine. Sometimes you may see blood in the urine if you have an infection.

Once you know what's causing your problem, you'll be able to talk about possible treatments with your doctor or continence nurse. They will discuss the condition with you and describe how the various treatments can help.

Are your symptoms affecting your lifestyle?

You may feel you're coping well with your symptoms. But many people don't realise how much improvement could be gained through better control of their symptoms. Ask yourself these questions to help identify how much your symptoms are affecting your day-to-day life:

Do you:

• Avoid long car rides?
• Stay at home instead of going out with friends?
• Avoid places and activities where there might not be a toilet?
• Map out all the local loos?
• Often feel embarrassed because of accidents?
• Avoid being close to loved ones?
• Find yourself worrying about when your next accident will happen?

If your answer to any of these questions is 'yes,' then it may well be possible for you to gain better control of your bladder condition. Have a chat with your doctor or incontinence nurse, as they may well have suggestions as to how to improve your symptoms.

Be inspired by others who have had bladder problems.
Ron's story (PDF)
Joan's story (PDF)

Complications

Many people find their bladder problems control is improved with medication and/or other approaches. However, there are a few complications you should keep an eye out for, that can occur as a result of bladder problems, including:

Skin problems - If you have urinary incontinence that causes your skin to be wet much of the time, you may develop sores or a skin infection.

Disrupting day-to-day activities - bladder problems can disrupt your daily lifestyle. For instance, you may feel less like doing your usual sports, going to the shops, or traveling to see friends. If this is happening to you, it's time to pay a visit to your doctor to see about getting more effective treatment.

Changes in your work life - Bladder problems may affect your concentration at work especially if you are anxious about going to the loo all the time.

Interfering with your love life - Some people avoid having sex because they worry they may leak urine. Talking about your feelings with your partner may not cure the problem - but it can make it seem far less important and more manageable.

Read more on how to raise tricky subjects with your partner.