Overactive bladder (OAB), also known as overactive bladder syndrome, is a condition where there is a frequent feeling of needing to urinate to a degree that it negatively affects a person's life. The frequent need to urinate may occur during the day, at night, or both.If there is loss of bladder control then it is known as urge incontinence. More than 40% of people with overactive bladder have incontinence. While about 40% to 70% of urinary incontinence is due to overactive bladder.It is not life-threatening.veractive bladder is estimated to occur in 7-27% of men and 9-43% of women. It becomes more common with age. Some studies suggest that the condition is more common in women, especially when associated with loss of bladder control.