What is bladder training?

• A. A surgical procedure to reduce bladder capacity.
• B. A behavioral therapy to increase bladder capacity and reduce urge by scheduled voiding and urge suppression techniques.
• C. A pharmacologic regimen to suppress detrusor contractions.
• D. A diagnostic imaging technique.

Answer: (B)

Bladder training is a behavioral therapy that aims to increase how much urine the bladder can hold and reduce daily urges by teaching scheduled voiding and ways to suppress sudden urges. The approach starts with regular bathroom visits at fixed intervals, chosen to be longer than the person's current typical voiding frequency, and then gradually lengthens those intervals as control improves. When a strong urge appears before the planned time, techniques such as slow breathing, gentle pelvic floor muscle contractions, and distraction help suppress the urge long enough to reach the next scheduled void. Keeping a voiding diary helps tailor the schedule and track progress. Over time, this retrains the bladder to accommodate more urine and reduces detrusor overactivity, leading to fewer urgency and leakage episodes. It’s a non-surgical, non-pharmacologic strategy, unlike surgical procedures, drug regimens, or imaging techniques.