Overcome bladder issues

Botox injections have recently been approved in Australia for use in overactive bladder.

“Overactive bladder (OAB) is a condition in women where the bladder contracts involuntarily too often or without warning leading to the constant urge to urinate and/or leakage of urine,” Dr Arun said.

“In order to manage OAB, your doctor may recommend treatments that work by calming the nerves and muscles around your bladder.

“Not all women benefit from these treatments with some unable to tolerate the side effects of available medications, which can include dry mouth, constipation and lack of concentration and feeling drowsy.”

For women unable to use medications to relieve OAB, Botox injections can be offered as an alternative treatment.

Botox as treatment for OAB is delivered via injection and works by blocking the muscles and nerves that lead to the feeling of urgently needing to urinate.

Dr Arun said treatment can be highly effective in relieving the frequency and urgency of needing to go to the toilet and reduces urinary incontinence in the majority of women.

“Usually the beneficial effects are seen three to four days after the injection with effects lasting between six and 12 months,” he said.

What is Overactive bladder (OAB)?

This is a condition in women when bladder contracts involuntarily too often or without warning leading to the constant urge to urinate and or leakage of urine.

What is the treatment for Overactive Bladder(OAB)?

In order to manage OAB, your doctor may recommend different types of treatments that work by calming the nerves and muscles around your bladder, but not all women benefit from this treatment.

Some women may have tried more than two medications and cannot tolerate the side effects of the medications.

For these women, Botox injections to the bladder may be offered as a treatment.

What are Botox injections to the bladder?

Botox works by blocking the muscles and nerves that lead to a feeling of urgently needing to urinate.

This involves passing a small telescope (cystoscope) into your bladder through your urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to outside the body) and injecting between 10 and 20 injections of Botox into your bladder wall from the inside.

This helps to improve the symptoms of overactive bladder.

What are the benefits of Botox injections?

Botox is highly effective in relieving the frequency and urgency of needing to go to the toilet and reduces urinary incontinence in majority of women undergoing the injection.

For the majority of women, the beneficial effects are usually seen three to four days after the injection.

The Botox injection is expected to last for six to twelve months, but this will vary for each woman.

For some women, a single treatment is all that is required.

Any side effects?

Sometimes urinary retention occurs (inability or difficulty to empty your bladder) which means the botox injection has worked too well and women cannot pass urine on their own.

However, there is a small risk of you requiring to self catheterise (pass a tube/catheter into the bladder yourself a few times a day) to empty the bladder.

Blood in your urine -This is usually minor and settles down without any treatment.

What happens after the treatment?

You can return to work the day after your Botox injection and be seen in the clinic two weeks to a month after the injection.

For treatment enquiries call the Waikiki Specialist Centre on 9550 0300 at 221 Wilmott Drive, Waikiki.

Email specialists@waikikiprivatehospital.com