Urinary Incontinence & Overactive Bladder

Medically reviewed by Dr. Tony Willcox, PhD, D.A.O.M., A.P.
Last reviewed: September 2026

Urinary incontinence is the unintended loss of urine and occurs in several forms. Stress incontinence is leakage with pressure — a cough, a sneeze, a lift, a laugh. Overactive bladder (OAB) is marked by urgency, frequency, and sometimes urge-related leakage, driven by a bladder muscle that contracts when it shouldn’t. Many people have a mix. Because these symptoms can also stem from infection, medication, or other treatable conditions, evaluation by a physician is essential — both to pinpoint the cause and to rule out other causes.

Bladder symptoms show up in familiar patterns:

• Leaking with coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting, or exercise
• A sudden, hard-to-defer urge to urinate
• Going more often than expected, day or night
• Waking repeatedly at night to urinate
• Planning daily life around restroom access

Contributors include pelvic floor changes after childbirth, Contributors include pelvic floor changes after childbirth, menopause, prostate issues in men, nerve conditions, and certain medications. However, because some causes need specific medical treatment, that workup with a physician remains the priority.

In Chinese medicine, bladder control is closely tied to the Kidney and its grip on fluids — often described as the Kidney’s “Qi” holding urine in check. When that holding function weakens, leakage or urgency can follow. This framework guides an individualized approach aimed at strengthening and stabilizing the system. Sacral points such as BL33, along with points like SP6 and CV4, are commonly associated with bladder support, though the specific prescription always depends on the person Dr. Willcox is treating.

For incontinence, acupuncture is used as a possible complement aimed at supporting bladder control — thought to work partly by influencing the nerves that regulate the bladder and pelvic floor. The evidence here is among the strongest in acupuncture for pain and function. A large randomized trial published in JAMA found that electroacupuncture at sacral points reduced urine leakage in women with stress urinary incontinence compared with sham treatment (Liu et al., JAMA, 2017). As with any single study, results reflect a specific protocol and population, so acupuncture is offered as a possible supportive complement — not a guaranteed outcome and not a substitute for the medical care these symptoms warrant.

A first visit begins with the pattern itself — when leakage or urgency happens, how often, and what has already been evaluated or tried. Dr. Willcox confirms that a patient has had, or is pursuing, a medical assessment, since ruling out other causes takes precedence. Treatment is gentle and dignified, often pairing acupuncture with pelvic-floor and bladder-habit guidance that patients can discuss with their physician. Throughout, acupuncture is coordinated with — never a substitute for — appropriate medical care.