Welcome to the COB Foundation

Who We Are

The Cystitis & Overactive Bladder (COB) Foundation exists because bladder problems are common, often misunderstood, and can be genuinely miserable to live with. We’re an organisation that provides information, support, and resources for people dealing with conditions affecting the bladder and urinary tract.

If you’ve landed here, chances are you or someone you care about is struggling with a bladder condition. Maybe you’ve been recently diagnosed with interstitial cystitis and feel overwhelmed by conflicting information online. Perhaps you’ve been told you have overactive bladder and wonder if this is something you’ll have to manage for the rest of your life. Or you might be dealing with repeated urinary tract infections that antibiotics can’t seem to fully clear.

Whatever brought you here, you’re not alone. Bladder conditions affect millions of people in the UK. According to the NHS, overactive bladder alone affects around 12% of adults 1. The Bladder and Bowel Community estimates that over 14 million people in the UK have some form of bladder problem 2. These are not rare or unusual conditions—they’re common, even if people rarely discuss them openly.

Why Bladder Conditions Deserve More Attention

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: bladder problems carry a stigma that many other chronic conditions don’t. Heart disease? Diabetes? Cancer? People talk about these. They raise awareness, organise charity runs, wear coloured ribbons. But mention incontinence, urgency, or constant urination, and the conversation tends to dry up rather quickly.

This silence creates real problems. People suffer in isolation, too embarrassed to seek help. They assume their symptoms are a normal part of ageing (often they’re not) or that nothing can be done (usually untrue). Some wait years before seeing a doctor, by which time their quality of life has deteriorated substantially.

A 2020 study published in the International Journal of Clinical Practice found that nearly 70% of women with overactive bladder symptoms waited at least a year before seeking medical help, with many citing embarrassment as the primary reason for delay 3. That’s a lot of unnecessary suffering.

The COB Foundation aims to change this. We provide accurate information so you can understand what’s happening with your body. We offer guidance on treatment options so you can have informed conversations with your doctor. And we want to normalise talking about bladder health, because these conditions are nothing to be ashamed of.

The Conditions We Cover

Our focus is on bladder and urinary tract conditions, a broad category that includes:

Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome – A chronic condition causing bladder pain, pressure, and urinary urgency without bacterial infection. IC/PBS remains poorly understood despite decades of research. There’s no definitive cure, but most people find that a combination of treatments can provide meaningful relief. We have extensive resources on IC/PBS treatment options and dietary guidance.

Overactive Bladder – Characterised by sudden, intense urges to urinate that can be difficult to control. OAB affects both men and women, though the underlying causes differ. We cover everything from lifestyle changes to medication options and answers to frequently asked questions about OAB.

Cystitis – Inflammation of the bladder, most often caused by bacterial infection (bacterial cystitis) but sometimes triggered by other factors like radiation treatment or certain medications. We explain the difference between straightforward UTIs and more complex presentations.

Urinary Tract Infections – The classic burning, frequent urination, and urgency that most women experience at some point. We provide comprehensive information on everything you need to know about UTIs, including prevention strategies for those who get them repeatedly (recurrent UTIs).

Other Urological Conditions – Including urinary incontinence of various types, neurogenic bladder, nocturia (excessive night-time urination), and conditions affecting men such as benign prostatic hyperplasia and chronic prostatitis.

What We Actually Provide

Let me be concrete about what you’ll find on this site:

Condition guides – Detailed explanations of specific bladder conditions, including symptoms, causes, diagnostic approaches, and treatment options. We try to be honest about what’s well-established versus what remains uncertain or controversial.

Treatment information – From lifestyle modifications to oral medications to intravesical treatments for those who need more intensive approaches. We cover the evidence for various treatments without overselling or underselling what they can achieve.

Practical guidance – Articles on topics like bladder-friendly diets, self-help strategies, and products that can help with daily living. Sometimes the most useful information isn’t about medical treatments at all—it’s about practical adjustments that make day-to-day life more manageable.

Research and supplements – Our library includes evidence-based information on supplements that people commonly try for bladder health, including D-mannose, cranberry, and probiotics. We aim to present the research fairly—what the studies actually show, not what marketing materials claim.

Our Approach

We believe in being accurate, honest, and practical. That means:

We follow the evidence. Our articles reference peer-reviewed research, clinical guidelines from bodies like NICE and the European Association of Urology, and expert consensus. When the evidence is limited or conflicting, we say so rather than pretending certainty exists where it doesn’t.

We acknowledge uncertainty. Medicine doesn’t have all the answers for bladder conditions. Some treatments work brilliantly for some people and not at all for others. Researchers still argue about basic questions like what causes interstitial cystitis. We try to reflect this reality rather than offering false reassurance.

We respect your intelligence. You’re capable of understanding complex information when it’s presented clearly. We don’t dumb things down unnecessarily or hide behind vague statements. If something is complicated, we explain why rather than glossing over it.

We’re not trying to sell you anything. We’re not a commercial site flogging supplements or treatments. We exist to provide information and support, full stop. When we discuss products or treatments, we aim for objectivity.

Living With a Bladder Condition

If you’re newly diagnosed with a chronic bladder condition, the early days can feel overwhelming. There’s a lot to absorb—new terminology, treatment options you’ve never heard of, lifestyle changes to consider. Some people feel a strange mix of relief (finally knowing what’s wrong) and despair (learning there’s no quick fix).

A few thoughts that might help:

It often gets better. Most people with conditions like IC/PBS or OAB find that with time, patience, and the right combination of approaches, their symptoms improve substantially. The severe symptoms you’re experiencing now are unlikely to be permanent. Finding what works for you takes trial and error, but there’s usually something that helps.

You’re the expert on your own body. Doctors can offer diagnosis, treatment options, and medical expertise. But you’re the one who knows which symptoms bother you most, which treatments you can tolerate, which side effects are acceptable. Your input matters enormously in managing chronic conditions.

Small changes add up. You don’t have to overhaul your entire life overnight. Sometimes identifying your personal triggers—maybe it’s coffee, maybe it’s stress, maybe it’s sitting too long—and making targeted changes produces noticeable improvement. Keep a bladder diary if you’re not sure what affects you.

Find support. Chronic health conditions can be isolating, especially ones that people feel awkward discussing. Online communities, support groups, or simply finding one trusted person you can talk honestly with can make a real difference to how you cope.

Give yourself time to adjust. Managing a chronic bladder condition is a learning process. You’ll figure out what works for your body, which advice applies to you and which doesn’t, which doctors are helpful and which ones brush off your concerns. The first few months after diagnosis are often the hardest—things genuinely do tend to get easier as you develop strategies and find treatments that work.

Getting Involved

The COB Foundation relies on community support. There are several ways you can help:

Share your experience. Personal stories from people living with bladder conditions help others feel less alone and can provide practical insights that clinical guidelines miss. We occasionally publish patient stories on the site.

Spread the word. If you find our resources helpful, sharing them with others who might benefit helps us reach more people. Breaking down the stigma around bladder conditions happens one conversation at a time.

Support our work. Running an organisation like this takes resources. Information about supporting the COB Foundation can be found through our fundraising activities.

What Comes Next

If you’re new here, a good starting point is the condition page relevant to your situation. Browse our conditions section or explore specific topics through our health information articles.

For IC/PBS, try our comprehensive overview or treatment guide.

For OAB, start with our FAQ or treatment options.

For UTIs, our complete UTI guide covers causes, treatment, and prevention.

You don’t have to read everything at once. Bookmark this site, come back when you need specific information, and remember that managing a bladder condition is a process, not an event. We’re here to support you along the way.

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The COB Foundation provides educational information only. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have concerns about your symptoms, please consult a healthcare professional.