Overactive bladder and incontinence

Urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence" is the involuntary, i.e. unintentional, leakage of urine.

Overactive bladder / irritable bladder

An overactive bladder (OAB) or irritable bladder manifests itself as a sudden, strong urge to urinate (so-called "imperative urge to urinate") despite only a relatively small filling of the bladder. Further symptoms in this context are frequent urination and in some cases increased urination at night. Incontinence can occur in this context, but does not have to. This is known as "urge incontinence".

However, an irritable bladder can only be diagnosed if other causes causing an increased urge to urinate (e.g. cystitis) have been ruled out.