Botox injections may help Park City women dealing with an overactive bladder

Botox is an injectable solution that most people recognize as a cosmetic treatment. What many people don’t know is that the actual Botox cosmetic is an offshoot of a medical therapy that had been used for years in patient affected by various types of muscular disorders. It was as physicians noticed the side effect of this therapeutic compound that research began on the cosmetic uses of the purified protein. While there is a great use for Botox in aesthetic medicine, there is also now a place for this “wonder drug” in the area of urogynecology.

Specifically, research is showing that Botox injections can be extremely useful in the treatment of overactive bladder. An experienced physician with offices in Park City, Woodstock, and Lake Forest, IL, Dr. Sanjay Gandhi discusses the advantages and disadvantages of Botox with patients who may benefit from this treatment.

Women with an overactive bladder may experience a sudden urge to urinate and simultaneous difficulty controlling the urge with muscular force. The result of the uncontrollable urge is the accidental loss of urine. Physicians call this condition urge urinary incontinence. Botox is particularly effective on cases of urge incontinence caused by medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis or from nerve damage.

One of the most common ways to treat overactive bladder has been to prescribe anticholinergic medication. This oral medication relaxes the muscles that control the bladder and minimize the urge to urinate. While effective, this approach requires the daily consumption of medication. In a study following 250 women who received a single Botox injection, 70 percent of participants reported a decrease in symptoms comparable to that from oral medication. While many women in the study experienced a decrease in the number of leaks each day, others reported a full clearing of bladder leakage.

This study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in October of 2012. Since that time, numerous women have experienced first-hand the benefits of Botox as a viable treatment for overactive bladder. If you would like to regain confidence through the proper treatment of overactive bladder, we are happy to assist you. Contact Partners in Pelvic Health at North Shore Urogynecology.