Causes of OAB
A malfunctioning detrusor muscle causes overactive bladder. Identifiable underlying causes include the following:
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate, BPH)
- Nerve damage caused by abdominal trauma, pelvic trauma, or surgery
- Bladder stones
- Drug side effects
- Neurological disease (e.g., multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, stroke, spinal cord lesions)
- Bladder cancer or prostate cancer
Other conditions can produce symptoms similar to overactive bladder, including urinary tract infection (UTI) and normal pressure hydrocephalus.
