Pune, July, 2025 – Overactive Bladder (OAB), a condition often brushed aside as a minor inconvenience, is rapidly becoming a significant health concern in India, affecting over 10% of the adult population. Marked by sudden, uncontrollable urges to urinate, increased frequency, nocturia, and sometimes incontinence, OAB not only interferes with daily activities but also deeply impacts emotional and mental well-being.
Doctors and researchers are now advocating for a shift in how OAB is perceived and treated. The latest European Association of Urology Guidelines and clinical insights from institutions like Yale Medicine and Penn Medicine reaffirm that OAB is a multifactorial condition—sometimes a standalone bladder dysfunction, and other times a symptom of deeper neurological or urological conditions.
“Many patients silently suffer for years, assuming their symptoms are a natural part of ageing or stress,” said Dr. Parag Gulhane, leading urologist at Dr Gulhane’s – Urology and Dental Clinic, Pune. “But OAB can significantly impair quality of life, causing sleep disturbances, anxiety, and social withdrawal. What we’re seeing now is a welcome evolution in how we approach this condition—with modern medicine offering both better understanding and more effective, patient-friendly treatment options.”
Recent studies have found significant associations between OAB symptoms and conditions like carcinoma in situ (CIS) in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), highlighting the need for deeper diagnostics in patients who experience pollakisuria (frequent urination) without obvious cause. This reinforces the role of urologists in ensuring that OAB symptoms are not dismissed or managed solely with lifestyle advice.
While conservative approaches remain the first line of therapy—including weight management, pelvic floor muscle exercises, bladder training, and reduction of caffeine or irritant intake—innovative treatment methods are offering new hope. Among the most promising is Transcutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation (TTNS), a non-invasive, outpatient procedure that electrically stimulates nerves linked to bladder control. Studies have shown TTNS to be as effective as pelvic floor therapy and even percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS), offering significant symptom relief in patients who do not respond well to standard options.
In cases where OAB is linked to neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, anticholinergic medications have proven beneficial in reducing daily urinary frequency. This class of drugs works by relaxing the bladder muscle, thus reducing urgency and incontinence episodes.
Dr. Gulhane adds: “We are entering an era of personalized urology. Not every OAB case is the same, and neither should be the treatment. For some, lifestyle changes may be enough. For others, we now have advanced tools like TTNS that are minimally invasive and offer long-term benefits. The key is early diagnosis and removing the stigma that stops people—especially women and the elderly—from seeking help. OAB is manageable, and no one should feel ashamed to talk about it.”
As the prevalence of OAB continues to grow across urban and semi-urban India, healthcare providers are calling for increased awareness, early screening, and integrated care pathways that prioritize both physiological and psychological relief.