Key Takeaways:
- Bladder botox treats overactive bladder by relaxing bladder muscles, reducing contractions, and alleviating symptoms within 7-14 days.
- The procedure involves quick, minimally invasive injections done under local anesthesia or twilight sleep, allowing for a fast recovery.
- Bladder botox lasts 3-16 months, with high success rates and fewer side effects than OAB medications.
If you're dealing with sudden urges to urinate, frequent bathroom trips, or unexpected leaks, you may be exploring various treatments to alleviate your symptoms.
Bladder botox could be the right option for you, offering a promising solution by relaxing the bladder muscles and providing significant relief from OAB symptoms.
In this blog, we'll discuss the pros and cons of bladder botox to help you make an informed decision.
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What Is Bladder Botox?
Botox is a medication made from a toxin produced by bacteria. Botox injections, called bladder botox, are treatment options approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that can be used to treat a type of urinary incontinence called overactive bladder (OAB).
OAB symptoms typically manifest as a sudden and intense urge to urinate, urinating more frequently than usual, and urinary leakage.
These FDA-approved injections of Botox reduce symptoms of OAB by temporarily relaxing your bladder muscles, leading to fewer bladder contractions and spasms.
How Does Bladder Botox Work?
When you get bladder botox, your healthcare provider uses a camera to look inside your bladder. Then, using a small needle, your provider will inject Botox into your bladder muscle. Anywhere from 5-20 injections can be used.
This procedure can be performed in the office under local anesthetic or in an outpatient surgery center under twilight sleep. Once the camera has entered the bladder, the injection process can take less than 5 minutes.
The injection temporarily relaxes the bladder muscles, lessening symptoms of OAB / urge incontinence. It can take anywhere from 7-14 days to see results from your injections.
How Long Do Botox Bladder Injections Last?
A majority of individuals need a Botox injection once a year, but this can range anywhere from 3-16 months.
Is Bladder Botox Painful?
The bladder botox procedure is done under local anesthesia or twilight sleep but is not usually painful.
How Successful Is Botox for Bladder Control?
Success rates of bladder botox range from 60-90% for OAB that includes urgency urinary incontinence. To get these successful results, make sure you're seeing a healthcare provider trained in counseling about this procedure and experienced and comfortable in performing this procedure under local anesthesia.
Bladder Botox Pros
It Comes With Fewer Side Effects Than OAB Medications
Bladder botox has the same goals as bladder medications without the risk of full-body side effects. It’s also different from other treatments that may impact the nerves that help your bladder communicate with your brain or from a surgical treatment that may be for stress urinary incontinence.
The Procedure Is Simple
The botox procedure takes 5 minutes in your healthcare provider's office, and you can drive yourself home afterward.
It Improves Your Quality of Life
Bladder botox allows you to participate fully in your life and not worry about searching for the bathroom. It also has excellent success rates for treating urinary leakage, so you can avoid using bladder control pads, adult protective underwear, or changing your clothes from accidents.
Bladder Botox Cons
It's Not Permanent
Bladder botox injections can wear off after 3-16 months.
There Are Potential Side Effects & Risks
There are potential side effects of Botox. Some individuals who undergo the procedure may develop urinary tract infections (UTIs), develop an issue with emptying the bladder completely (urinary retention) and needing a catheter, and may develop irritation with urinating in the short term. Speak with your healthcare provider or urologist to learn more about these side effects.
You Might Develop a Resistance to Botox
Some individuals may develop a resistance to Botox, meaning the injections will stop working as well for them with repeated treatments.
What happens if bladder botox doesn't work as expected for a patient? Are there alternative treatments they can pursue? Can always try a combination treatment with medications or use the sacral neuromodulation device or posterior tibial nerve stimulation
Who Should Get Bladder Botox?
Bladder botox treatments can be effective treatment options if you:
- Experience bothersome urinary symptoms of urgency, frequency, nocturia (bedwetting), or urgency urinary incontinence.
- If you don't want to use OAB medications or have not responded to these medications.
There are also instances where individuals shouldn't get bladder botox, including if you:
- Can't empty your bladder fully.
- Have poorly controlled diabetes.
- Experience recurrent UTIs.
- Don't want to catheterize in case you need to after the procedure.
- Have certain medical conditions like neurological conditions.
Are Bladder Botox Injections Covered by Insurance?
Some insurance plans cover Botox injections if your insurance deems them medically necessary. Your coverage will vary depending on your plan, so contact your insurance provider to find out.
If you aren't covered for bladder botox but are still in need of treatment for urinary incontinence symptoms, you may be able to receive insurance-covered bladder control supplies with Aeroflow Urology.
Bladder Botox Post-Procedure Care Tips
Following your procedure, your healthcare provider will check to see if you're emptying your bladder regularly. If you experience any side effects following the injections, you should contact your healthcare provider for a possible follow-up appointment. Your provider may also prescribe antibiotics to prevent infections.
Bladder botox can be an excellent choice for those with urinary incontinence symptoms. Before receiving treatment, ensure you understand the risks, talk to your healthcare provider, and ensure all your questions are answered. Overall, bladder botox is a safe, effective, and straightforward procedure that can improve your quality of life.
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Medical Advisor, Lopa Pandya, MD, MS, FACOG
Dr. Lopa Pandya, MD, MS, FACOG, is a Medical Advisor for Aeroflow Urology and a Reconstructive Pelvic Surgeon in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at UI Health. Dr. Pandya completed a fellowship in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery and specializes in treating various pelvic floor disorders, urinary issues, and pelvic organ prolapse. Her clinical interests include minimally invasive surgery, robotic surgery, surgical outcomes, and finding ways to improve patients' quality of life.
She is the Vice Chair of the Public Education Committee for the American Urogynecologic Society as well as Director of Gynecologic Simulation in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology . She has published multiple articles in the field of urogynecology and pelvic reconstructive surgery.
About the Author
Marlee Septak is the Senior Content Specialist at Aeroflow Urology and was a past Content Writer for Aeroflow Diabetes. She brings a deep understanding of incontinence and health conditions associated with it to her writing. She graduated from Columbia College Chicago and holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism. Marlee has contributed to various magazines and blogs, including Borgen Magazine, Echo Magazine, Chicago Ideas Week, Assuaged, and Peaceful Dumpling. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, and just sitting down with a good book.
Disclaimer
Information provided on the Aeroflow Urology blog is not intended as a substitute for medical advice or care from a healthcare professional. Aeroflow recommends consulting your healthcare provider if you are experiencing medical issues relating to incontinence.
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