A urinary spasm or bladder spasm is a sudden, involuntary contraction of your bladder muscles that produces an urgent desire to urinate, according to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. If you do not respond by voluntarily urinating, the bladder spasm can cause urine to leak out of your bladder.

Normal Bladder Function

A properly functioning bladder is relaxed as it fills up with urine and begins to send signals to your brain to let you know that you need to urinate, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. When you decide to urinate, your bladder contracts to release the urine. A spasmodic bladder, on the other hand, contracts without warning or direction.

Causes

Bladder spasms are often the result of urinary tract infections or nerve damage, either from a trauma or a disease such as Parkinson's, according to Aetna Women's Health explains. Spasmodic bladder can also be a symptom of interstitial cystitis.

Impact

Bladder spasms force you to find a bathroom immediately or risk leaking urine, a potentially embarrassing prospect. Depending on their frequency, urinary spasms can have a very detrimental impact on your quality of life.

Treatment

Treatment options for urinary spasms include medication (to treat an infection or relax the bladder muscles), bladder retraining, pelvic muscle exercises, and electric stimulation, according to MedlinePlus.

Seeing Your Doctor

Consult your doctor if you are suffering from a spasmodic bladder. He will diagnose your particular condition and suggest appropriate treatment.

Source:

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center: Bladder Spasm

Aetna Women's Health: Menopause and Bladder Control

MedlinePlus: Urge Incontinence