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Overactive Bladder? It's Time to Talk About It

From the Show: Staying Well
Summary: Roughly 30 million Americans have an overactive bladder, and 40 percent are women. Are you one of them?
Air Date: 10/28/13
Duration: 10
Host: Melanie Cole, MS
Guest Bio: Elizabeth Mueller, MD, MSME

Elizabeth Mueller HeadshotElizabeth Mueller, MD, MSME, FACS, is an associate professor and division and fellowship director of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery in the Departments of Urology and Obstetrics & Gynecology at the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine in Maywood, Illinois.

Dr. Mueller is board certified by the American Board of Urology and specializes in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery. She focuses on the surgical and medical management of urinary incontinence (urine leakage), pelvic organ prolapse, vaginal reconstruction, urinary fistulas, and congenital abnormalities of the genitor-urinary system, urethral diverticulum, hematuria, and urinary retention.

Dr. Mueller is involved in many professional organizations. Specifically, she serves as a chair of the 2013 scientific program committee for the American Urogynecological Society. She is also a member of the American Urological Association, North Central section of the AUA and a member of the Society of Urodynamics and Female Urology. She is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and was previously president of the Society of Women in Urology.

She has won numerous awards and distinctions, including, the Bjorn Fortling Award, the Loyola University Medical Center Leischner Scholar Award, the Chicago Urological Association Charles Huggins Resident Essay Award, the TAP Pharmaceutical Urology Resident Debate Award, the Chicago Urological Association Irving J. Shapiro Conference Resident Award, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology "Stump the Professor" Award and the American Urogynecology Society Eli Lilly Scholar Award. She was also awarded "Teacher of the Year" in 2012 by the residents in the Loyola Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Dr. Mueller is active in clinical research within Female Pelvic Medicine and has published numerous papers in peer-reviewed journals. She has also presented her research findings at national and international meetings related to her subspecialty. Additionally, Dr. Mueller has been featured for her expertise in a number of media outlets, including The Dr. Oz Show.

Dr. Mueller is a graduate of the St. Louis University School of Medicine. She completed her urology residency at the Loyola University Medical Center and then became one of the first urologists to be trained by a urogynecologist in the accredited American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology/American Board of Urology joint fellowship in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery. She received her Master of Science in mechanical engineering from Washington University and her Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering degree from the University of Missouri-Rolla.
    Overactive Bladder? It's Time to Talk About It
    An overactive bladder can be an embarrassing issue to bring up with your friends, family and even your doctor. However, when you're rushing to use the bathroom eight or more times a day, and more than twice in the middle of the night, it's time to break the silence and discuss treatment options.

    Overactive bladder occurs when abnormal nerves send signals to your bladder at the wrong time, causing its muscles to squeeze without warning. An overactive bladder isn't as uncommon as previously thought. Roughly 30 million Americans have an overactive bladder, and 40 percent of them are women.

    Not only is it an annoyance to constantly feel like you're going to wet your pants, but having an overactive bladder can cause pain in your low back and side, fever, nausea, and generally just interfere with your lifestyle.

    Unfortunately, some of the medication treatment options also have undesirable side effects. There are, however, exciting new developments in treatment that may truly make a significant improvement.

    Associate professor and division and fellowship director of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Dr. Elizabeth Mueller, MD, MSME, breaks the silence of overactive bladder and discusses treatment options available.