Does an overactive bladder affect men and women differently? The answer is yes. While the symptoms might be similar, there are some major differences between causes and treatments. Learn what causes overactive bladder (OAB) in men and women and gender-specific insights in this article. If you want to know more about bladder health, visit us at Doral Health and Wellness Urology Center and consult with the best nephrologists and urologists in East New York.
Causes of OAB in men and women
Overactive bladder can be caused by many factors, however, some causes of OAB are gender specific which leads to frequent urination.
For women, they are more prone to OAB because the female urethra is shorter, which makes it easier for bacteria to travel before they infect the urinary tract and cause symptoms. People with a vagina are at risk of OAB if they are:
• Experiencing vaginal irritation and inflammation
• Improperly wiping after using the restroom (increases the exposure of E. coli to the urethra).
• Having unsafe sexual intercourse (can also introduce bacteria into the urinary tract).
Other conditions that may cause OAB in women are:
• Pregnancy
• Fibroids
• Low estrogen levels due to menopause
• Ovarian cancer
For men, conditions that affect the prostate may lead to OAB which causes frequent urination. It includes:
• Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also known as an enlarged prostate.
• Prostatitis is an inflammatory condition that is caused by bacterial infection.
• Prostate cancer.
Other common causes of OAB for both men and women include:
• Injuries to areas such as bladder, spine, and pelvis.
• Neurological conditions such as stroke and multiple sclerosis (MS).
• Being overweight puts extra pressure on the bladder.
Overactive bladder in men and women: gender-specific insights
Overactive bladder affects people differently based on their gender. Here are some insights into overactive bladder in men and women:
1. Difference of symptoms of urinary incontinence:
While overactive bladder affects both genders, mostly overlooked in men who develop pure OAB compared to women. Men tend to have symptoms like increased frequency, urgency, and nocturia more than urinary urgency incontinence (UUI) in women. These symptoms themselves are very troublesome and affect the life quality of both genders. While UUI from OAB is less common in men, it’s very troublesome if it occurs.
2. Unique aspects of incontinence based on gender:
In men uniquely, prostate issues play a significant role in OAB, which are difficult to diagnose. Doctors should consider OAB in men with UUI or recognize that men can develop both bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) and OAB rather than assuming it’s just incontinence that is linked with BOO. This is very much true in the case of men who have an enlarged prostate but don’t have a large residual capacity of urine. It is estimated that 25% of the time, UUI doesn’t get better after prostate surgery, instead in some cases, the surgery makes the incontinence worse.
3. The common type of incontinence in both genders:
While mixed incontinence is more common in women, men develop stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and UUI. However, SUI in men usually can occur as a complication of prostate surgery, such as radical prostatectomy.
4. Causes of UUI based on gender:
In both genders, the main problem that leads to UUI is detrusor overactivity, which can differ in men and women. Additionally, environmental factors or genetics are common risk factors in both populations. However, in men, overactivity can happen due to BOO.
5. Differences in causes of UUI may affect management decisions:
Urologists typically underestimate OAB in men and don’t differentiate between BOO and pure OAB. This tends to lead to performing prostate surgery to relieve outlet obstruction rather than treating the overactivity.
Overactive bladder in men and women show different symptoms based on different causes according to their genders. Certain risk factors can be the same, but the effect is different according to gender. You can’t prevent or cure OAB, however, with proper diagnosis, the doctor can identify the underlying cause and create a treatment plan that works best for you.
If you need help with an overactive bladder, visit our urology specialist in Brooklyn clinic to get professional medical help. Call us to book your appointment now!!!
At Doral Health and Wellness Urology Center, our team of urologists will work with you in managing your disease and your quality of life. We also offer services, such as renal and bladder ultrasound. To schedule an appointment, please visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11212 or call 1-347-384-5690. You can also visit our website at https://www.urologistbrooklyn.com/.