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Scheduled toileting (or scheduled voiding) is a technique that people with overactive bladder (OAB) can use to help retrain their bladder. If you have OAB, you may often experience sudden
urges to urinate. You may also urinate more frequently than usual, including during the night. The purpose of scheduled voiding is to get your bladder used to a regular frequency for
urinating. Experts often recommend the following schedule for people with OAB: * Empty your bladder as soon as you wake up in the morning. * You may want to go to the restroom again after
breakfast. * Schedule regular visits for the remainder of the day. You may wish to start with 30-minute intervals and then expand those intervals when you feel comfortable. It’s also
important to avoid going to the restroom “just in case” or going as soon as you feel the urge. This can be counterproductive. Experts recommend delaying your trip for 5 minutes to see if the
urge goes away. If you feel like you don’t need to go during a scheduled time, try to urinate anyway, as this can help with training the bladder. SCHEDULED TOILETING AT NIGHT Sticking to a
voiding schedule at night can be more challenging than during the daytime. In the early stages, you may still find yourself needing to go in the middle of the night, but this may ease after
time. How effective is scheduled toileting as a technique? The Canadian Urological Association guidelines note that systematic reviews have found scheduled voiding to be beneficial compared
to standard care for OAB. However, they also note that research shows inconsistent results in adults with cognitive challenges. What other techniques can I use to train my bladder?
Urologists often recommend other techniques along with scheduled voiding. These include: * pelvic floor muscle training * lifestyle changes, like quitting smoking if you do * dietary changes
* medications Bladder training can take 8 to 12 weeks before you see results. Eventually, the goal is to be able to go 3 to 4 hours between restroom visits. Talk with a healthcare
professional to learn more.