An irritable bladder manifests with the sudden uncontrollable urge to urinate. It is often a result of a bladder infection, a bladder stone, or obstruction to the outflow of urine by an enlarged prostate gland. In many cases the cause cannot be found, but the following treatments may help.

Treatment - Practical Advice

Drink plenty of water, at least 2 litres daily. Consult your doctor to see if you have a urinary tract infection. Make sure you empty the bladder completely each time you urinate. Women: always wipe yourself from front to back after going to the toilet. Empty the bladder after intercourse. Wear cotton underwear.

Homeopathy

To be taken every 15 minutes for 4 doses during acute attacks:

Urge to urinate, but nothing comes: Nux vomica 6c. Pain which is relieved if urination is postponed: Equisetum 6c. Urine feels like scalding water; violently painful: Cantharis 6c. Burning pain at the end of urination and afterwards: Sarsaparilla 6c. Stinging pains better from cold bathing: Apis 6c.

Exercise

For women: to strengthen pelvic floor muscles, try stopping urination mid-flow and then restarting. The muscles which control this reflex may need to be strengthened. During the day contract and relax these pelvic floor muscles when you are not urinating. The more often you do it, the stronger the muscles will become.

Orthodox

Urodynamic studies are useful in that they measure the flow and volume of urine passed through the bladder. They can diagnose problems in the bladder itself and in the urethra - the tube that leads from the bladder to the outside - so that accurate and precise treatment can be planned. Treatment may include drugs to suppress the nervous impulse to the bladder or to relax the bladder muscles.