Male Urinary Incontinence Treatment

What is Male Urinary Incontinence?

Urinary incontinence refers to the loss of bladder control or leakage of urine. Although this condition is more common in women, up to 25% of males can have urinary incontinence. 

Luckily, there are many incontinence treatment options to give you relief.

What are Common Types of Urinary Incontinence?

There are many reasons, causes, and ways that your bladder can lose control. When you have urinary incontinence, your bladder isn’t holding or releasing urine the way it should.

This can happen because:

  • Your brain doesn’t signal to your bladder correctly
  • You have a blockage in your urinary system
  • The muscles around your bladder aren’t working properly

If you leak during activity when something puts pressure on your bladder, this is known as stress incontinence. 

If you have a sudden and overwhelming need to urinate, this is known as urge incontinence, which is often associated with an overactive bladder. 

If you’re unable to completely empty your bladder and you leak, this is overflow incontinence.

There may be a mix of incontinence types depending on your condition and symptoms.

How Does Incontinence Impact Men?

Incontinence is often a long-term condition and it’s best to talk to your provider or urologist to further diagnose and treat. 

Incontinence in men is often related to prostate problems or treatments for them. Prostate enlargement can be caused by aging and lead to overactive bladder symptoms.

What Treatment Options are Available for Incontinence?

Men don’t have to live with this uncomfortable condition! Urinary incontinence can be embarrassing and negatively impact your daily life. You shouldn’t have to rearrange your activities because of incontinence.

Many treatment options are available to give you relief.

Common tests and treatments for urinary incontinence include: 

  • A physical exam with your provider
  • A urine test and/or assessment of how much urine is leftover in your bladder after you urinate.
  • Discussion of lifestyle changes that may help such as:
    • Maintaining a healthy weight
    • Strengthening your pelvic floor muscles
    • Reducing caffeine, carbonation, or alcohol
    • Stop smoking
  • Recommendation for medications that can give you relief
    • Some relax bladder muscles to help prevent unwanted contractions
    • Some block the nerve signals to the bladder that make it contract at the wrong time
    • Other drugs shrink or relax an enlarged prostate, helping with symptoms 
  • If necessary, your urologist may recommend surgical options to treat your urinary incontinence.  Examples include:
    • Nerve stimulation for overactive bladder  (Sacral Neuromodulation) – implanting a small device under the skin near the tailbone that sends electrical impulses to the nerves going to the bladder, thereby controlling bladder contractions
    • Sling surgery – placing a sling under a part of the urethra which is secured to bone or muscle, helping the urethra resist pressure from the abdomen
    • Adding an artificial sphincter – placing a silicone device around the urethra that acts like the urinary sphincter muscle
    • Urethral bulking – Thickening the wall of the urethra by adding material to it to prevent leakage

See A Urologist to Treat Your Urinary Incontinence

Many men fail to get evaluated and treated for urinary incontinence. A simple phone call can get you on track to get the relief you need. Don’t live with uncomfortable symptoms and urges!

If you’re dealing with urinary incontinence, contact your local urologist today.

Sources:

https://www.webmd.com/urinary-incontinence-oab/types-urinary-incontinence-men

https://denverurology.com/urology-blog/guys-guide-male-incontinence/