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Background: Overactive bladder (OAB) may affect health-related quality of life. Few data have been gathered on the impact of OAB or on patient satisfaction with therapy. This 2002 survey examined the effects of OAB on participants; treatment-seeking behaviors, patient satisfaction with oral OAB therapies, and desirable characteristics of new treatments were investigated.Methods: An online questionnaire was administered to 1228 women aged 40–65 years with at least a high school education and minimum annual income of $35 000. Respondents were categorized as having no OAB symptoms (control group; n = 330) or as having OAB symptoms (n = 898). Those with symptoms were subdivided into treatment groups: current users of prescription OAB medications (n = 309), lapsed prescription medication users (n = 265), and those never treated (n = 324). The significance of between-group differences in response was assessed through 95% confidence levels.Results: Symptoms of OAB significantly affect self-esteem, family relations, sexual relations, lifestyle, professional life, and health perception. More than half of women who discussed OAB with a health care provider (56%) waited longer than 1 year to seek treatment; many attempted to self-manage symptoms. Health care providers rarely screen for OAB, leaving many conditions undiagnosed and patients untreated. Women treated for OAB expressed significant dissatisfaction with current OAB therapies and the desire for more effective, convenient treatments with fewer adverse effects.Conclusions: Likely outcomes should be discussed with patients before treatment is initiated so that expectations are realistic and patients' overall satisfaction with treatment is enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]