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.

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.

Urologists often recommend other techniques along with scheduled voiding. These include:

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.