New evidence in the treatment of overactive bladder

Overactive bladder (OAB) in women is highly prevalent. It can be very bothersome and affect quality of life. Treatment differs significantly depending on the clinical presentation, and includes behavioural modification, medicinal therapies and surgical procedures. New treatment options have become available in recent years, and can offer great benefit to patients with persistent, bothersome OAB.

First-line management for OAB consists of lifestyle and behavioural therapy, followed by antimuscarinic therapy or oral beta-3 agonists. Sacral neuromodulation, onabotulinumtoxinA and posterior tibial nerve stimulation are additional well tolerated and efficacious treatment options that should be considered in carefully selected, refractory OAB patients. These recent advances in OAB therapy are discussed in this review.

The treatment of OAB is often complex, and can require trials of multiple different treatment modalities. Although the treatment advances discussed in this review have augmented treatment of OAB, the condition continues to negatively impact quality of life for our ageing female population. Clinical trials and development of novel therapies continue to be paramount.