Question: I’ve heard that Botox can help with OAB – is this true?  I thought Botox was used for wrinkles!

Answer: Yes! Besides being used to treat wrinkles, Botox has also been approved to treat Overactive Bladder symptoms, such as the strong need to urinate, urgency, urgency incontinence, and frequency of using the bathroom.  When you have OAB, your bladder muscles contract uncontrollably and you feel the frequent need to empty your bladder.  Botox works by blocking the signals that trigger OAB and is administered with a small tube (cystoscope) that is inserted through the urethra. BOTOX goes through a small needle into multiple areas of your bladder muscle. Treatments take only about an hour in your doctor’s office and may be needed as few as 1-2 times per year.  Botox can provide significant relief to patients suffering from OAB by reducing many of the symptoms normally experienced, including leakage.  BOTOX should be administered by a trained specialist such as a Urologist or Urogynecologist.  To find a specialist near you, visit the NAFC Specialist Locator.

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