- Alarming rise in urinary urgency, especially among urban women, linked to stress, obesity, and poor lifestyle habits
Pune, 2025 – A silent yet growing health condition is beginning to disrupt the lives of millions across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, and Rajasthan. Overactive Bladder (OAB), a medical condition that causes a sudden urge to urinate, sometimes with leakage, has emerged as a serious concern in West India.
This increase is not just a medical issue, it is a social and emotional crisis for thousands of women who suffer in silence.
“Overactive Bladder is not a normal part of aging, yet many women consider it something they have to live with,” said Dr Shankar Munde, MBBS, MS, MCh (Urology), Consultant Urologist and Andrologist, Endoscopic and Laparoscopic Surgeon, Pune. “We are seeing more cases in clinics every year, especially in working women and post-menopausal women. The link between OAB and lifestyle factors like poor diet, stress, diabetes, and lack of physical activity is becoming clearer. While medications like Mirabegron offer effective relief, the bigger issue is awareness. Most women don’t even know they’re suffering from a treatable medical condition. They simply adjust their lives around it, limiting travel, social outings, or even daily work.”
Additionally, studies show that OAB is more common among individuals from lower socio-economic and educational backgrounds where poor health-seeking behavior and limited access to urology specialists result in delayed diagnosis and suboptimal treatment.
Expert believe that a comprehensive public health response is now urgently needed. This includes clinical treatment along with community education, early screening, and lifestyle modification programs. More awareness campaigns targeting women above 40, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas, could help normalize conversations around bladder health.
Dr Munde adds, “It is time to destigmatize bladder-related health issues. Just like we talk about heart health or diabetes, we must talk about bladder health openly. Awareness can empower women to seek care, improve their health, and regain control over their lives.”
If left unaddressed, the economic and social costs of untreated OAB will continue to rise, affecting families, healthcare systems, and workplaces.
Let 2025 be the year we stop ignoring bladder health and start listening to what our bodies are trying to tell us.
i https://www.forbesindia.com/article/brand-connect/overactive-bladder-(oab)/76943/1
iii https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-66758-8
