Urinary Incontinence Treatment For Men

Common Causes Of Urinary Incontinence In Men:

Treatment Options for Male Urinary Incontinence

The following are common causes of urinary incontinence:

Prostate problems. Prostate problems, especially as men age, can result in problems with urinary control. If the prostate is enlarged, it may affect the flow of urine and cause a weak stream, frequent urination, and leaking. When the prostate is removed for cancer treatment, it is not uncommon to have stress incontinence, which is when physical movement such as coughing or sneezing triggers leakage.

Conditions that cause nerve damage. Because muscles and nerves must work together to control the bladder, any condition that damages the nerves can create urinary problems. Conditions may include Parkinsons disease, stroke, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, herniated discs, spinal cord injuries, and dementia.

What and how much you drink. Certain types of beverages can stress the urinary system. Limiting the amount of alcohol and caffeine, both of which have a diuretic effect, can help bladder control issues. Although staying hydrated is important, it is vital not to overdo it with fluid intake as this can exacerbate bladder control issues.

Weight status. Being overweight can exacerbate urinary incontinence.

Male Urinary Incontinence Home Remedies

There are a number of home remedies and lifestyle adaptations that are known to assist with UI, as well as help to prevent it. They can either be tried on their own, such as for mild cases of UI, or combined with other medical treatments. However, a consultation with a urologist is recommended to evaluate each individual case. With expert medical assistance, these home remedies can be adopted in addition to receiving any other necessary treatments.

Watch Your Diet. Certain foods and drinks can be triggers for a bladder problem in men as well as women. These include notably alcohol and caffeine, as well as fizzy drinks, spicy foods, tomato products, chocolate, and citrus juices. To evaluate what might be a possible personal trigger, its useful to keep a food diary. Note what seems to be a trigger. For accurate analysis, try eliminating one product at a time, and give it about a week to see if symptoms change.

Drink Fluids Moderately. Drink sufficient volumes to remain adequately hydrated, but do not overdo it as excessive fluid intake will contribute to urinary urgency, frequency and control issues.

Lose Weight if You Are Overweight. Excess fat, especially around the belly area, puts extra pressure on the pelvic muscles and bladder. Physical activity is a great way to lose weight and alleviate pressure on the bladder and is also good for general health.

Stop Smoking. If you do smoke, be aware that smoking irritates the bladder and can worsen UI symptoms.

Products And Devices That Help

Besides protective pads and surgery, there are other products that work for some men. Catheters are devices, usually tubes, used to drain your bladder. They come in different types for occasional, intermittent, or continuous use. There are three main types used for men:

Intermittent self-catheters can be inserted when you choose to use them. These are removed from your body when you aren’t using them. You don’t need to wear a bag with this type.
Indwelling catheters remain inside your bladder, and require you to wear a bag. These are usually inserted through your urethra, but can be inserted directly into your bladder in some cases.
Condom catheters don’t use a tube. Instead of a tube, a device with the shape of a condom is placed on the penis, which can then drain urine to a bag throughout the day.

You May Like: Can Turmeric Cause Urinary Problems

When To Call A Doctor For Urinary Incontinence In Men

For some men, urinary incontinence can be a minor inconvenience, but for others it can be severe and life changing. If you are experiencing a lot of problems with UI, such as weakness or numbness in your buttocks, legs, and feet, or if you get a fever, chills, and belly pain, you should see a doctor. Blood in the urine or burning with urination could also be a sign of a medical issue. Male incontinence at night, especially leakage while sleeping, needs to be addressed by a doctor.

While bringing urinary incontinence up with a doctor may seem embarrassing, just remember that they hear about it all the time from men. Also, the sooner you bring it up, the better chance you have of finding a proper treatment so you can resume normal living.

Types Of Urinary Incontinence

There are different types of incontinence:

Stress incontinence occurs when urine leaks as pressure is put on the bladder, for example, during exercise, coughing, sneezing, laughing, or lifting heavy objects. Its the most common type of bladder control problem in younger and middle-age women. It may begin around the time of menopause.
Urge incontinence happens when people have a sudden need to urinate and cannot hold their urine long enough to get to the toilet. It may be a problem for people who have diabetes, Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease, multiple sclerosis, or stroke.
Overflow incontinence happens when small amounts of urine leak from a bladder that is always full. A man can have trouble emptying his bladder if an enlarged prostate is blocking the urethra. Diabetes and spinal cord injuries can also cause this type of incontinence.
Functional incontinence occurs in many older people who have normal bladder control. They just have a problem getting to the toilet because of arthritis or other disorders that make it hard to move quickly.

When Should You Call Your Doctor

See your doctor immediately if your urinary incontinence does not go away or is accompanied by:

Weakness or numbness in your buttocks, legs, and feet.
Fever, chills, and abdominal or flank pain.
Blood in your urine or burning with urination.
A change in your bowel habits.

You have a problem with urinary incontinence that is getting worse.
Uncontrolled loss of urine is enough of a problem that you need to wear an absorbent pad.
Incontinence interferes with your life in any way.

Do not be embarrassed to discuss incontinence with your doctor. Incontinence is not an inevitable result of aging. Most people with incontinence can be helped or cured.

If you have a sudden change in your ability to urinate and you are not sure if it is related to your urinary incontinence, see the topic Urinary Problems and Injuries, Age 12 and Older.

Male Stress Urinary Incontinence

Before we get into the details on Stress Urinary Incontinence a quick review of the male plumbing system is in order. As you may recall from biology class, the kidneys main job is to filter out waste from the blood. Once it does so, it mixes this waste with water and sends it to the bladder. The bladder holds the urine until its time to pee. While the bladder muscle squeezes, the sphincter relaxes, allowing the urine to be released. Any sort of physical stress on the system can cause urine to be released unintentionally. Thats SUI.

How Is It Diagnosed

Upon talking to your doctor about your symptoms of incontinence, your doctor will likely perform a number of tests and exams in order to determine the root cause of the incontinence.

Your doctor will perform a physical examination to determine if there are any problems he or she can identify that might be causing your incontinence. During this time, your doctor may also conduct a digital rectal exam, in order to determine an enlarged prostate or to uncover any blockages that may exist. Finally, urine and/or blood tests may be taken to test for any other underlying conditions.

Your doctor may also ask you to keep a bladder diary for several days. This type of diary tracks your diet and drink intake, as well as any leaks that may occur, and what you were doing at the time. Often, this may identify patterns of when you are experiencing leaks, and can help you and your doctor determine diet or behavioral changes that may be beneficial in reducing bladder leaks.

Common Medications Used To Treat Male Urinary Incontinence And Bladder Control

Treatments for Stress Urinary Incontinence in Men

Male urinary incontinence affects millions of men in the US and the rest of the world. Many people feel overwhelmed by their condition and try to adjust their life around the problem. However, if you are suffering from the same issues, you can get your life back by using Mens Liberty external urine collection device to treat male urinary incontinance.

Mens Liberty is a discreet and dignified solution to help you regain your freedom, regardless of your age or the root cause of your problem. Traditional options such as adult diapers and condoms compare poorly with the benefits that a unique external catheter such as Mens Liberty offers.

While this drug-free solution is an ideal choice for thousands of men suffering from male urinary incontinence, you should also know about some common drugs that are used to treat this condition.

Don’t Miss: Tea For Urinary Tract Health

What Is Male Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is the loss of bladder control. Some men may experience urinary incontinence when coughing or sneezing, while others have an urgent need to urinate and cant get to a toilet in time. Urinary incontinence doesnt cause severe symptoms but can greatly impact quality of life.

Urinary incontinence is a very common condition that affects more than 25 percent of Americans at some point in their lives.

Treatment Options For Stress Urinary Incontinence

Male sling: The goal of the male sling is to help pull the urethra into the body in order to enhance the function of the external sphincter. It is important to have a functioning sphincter before having a sling placed. There are currently two male slings on the market, the first is made by AMS and is called the Advance Sling. This sling wraps around the inferior pubic rami at the level of the bulbar urethra.

The second is made by Coloplast and is called the Virtue Sling. The virtue also has arms that wrap around the inferior pubic rami, but it also features prepubic arms. The goal of the secondary arms is to add compression to the urethra.

Results of these two slings is similar, however, there have been no comparative trials.

Artificial urinary sphincter: The artificial urinary sphincter has been around since the 1970s, so there have been multiple modifications to this device. However, the function has always been the same to mimic the actions of the natural sphincter.

To implement the artificial urinary sphincter, incisions are placed in the perineum and low abdomen. Then, a cuff full of fluid is placed around the urethra to obstruct it. Next, a small balloon that holds fluid is placed in the abdomen. Finally, a pump sits in the scrotum that controls where the fluid goes. When a man needs to urinate, the pump in the scrotum is pressed, the fluid in the cuff moves from the cuff to the balloon, the urethra is opened and the urine is able to pass.

Also Check: What Foods Cause Urinary Tract Infection

Causes Of Urinary Incontinence

Incontinence can happen for many reasons. For example, urinary tract infections, vaginal infection or irritation, constipation. Some medicines can cause bladder control problems that last a short time. When incontinence lasts longer, it may be due to:

Weak bladder muscles
Overactive bladder muscles
Weak pelvic floor muscles
Damage to nerves that control the bladder from diseases such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes, or Parkinsons disease
Blockage from an enlarged prostate in men
Diseases such as arthritis that may make it difficult to get to the bathroom in time
Pelvic organ prolapse, which is when pelvic organs shift out of their normal place into the vagina. When pelvic organs are out of place, the bladder and urethra are not able to work normally, which may cause urine to leak.

Most incontinence in men is related to the prostate gland. Male incontinence may be caused by:

Prostatitisa painful inflammation of the prostate gland
Injury, or damage to nerves or muscles from surgery
An enlarged prostate gland, which can lead to Benign Prostate Hyperplasia , a condition where the prostate grows as men age.

Incontinence Surgery And Other Options

How Men can manage Urinary incontinence?

Surgical options include a male sling for stress incontinence. Material is wrapped around the urethra to compress it and prevent leaking due to coughing, sneezing, or vigorous activities. An implanted artificial sphincter may also help stress incontinence. It uses a cuff to close the urethra. Squeezing the pump opens the cuff and releases urine when you want to pee. A pacemaker-like device stimulates nerves that relax the bladder and pelvic floor muscles.

Read Also: Urinary Infection Blood In Urine

Natural Treatments For Male Incontinence

Along with medications, your doctor will recommend lifestyle changes to help reduce male incontinence. By controlling the number of fluids you drink, and when you drink them, you can help control the urge to go.

It is best to drink smaller amounts of liquid at regular intervals during the day. You can also start bladder training by delaying when you use the bathroom. By gradually making your bladder wait, you strengthen its muscles and reduce incontinence. There are also exercises you can do to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and those in the urinary tract system.

Urinary incontinence cannot always be prevented because you do not have control over certain risk factors like age and neurological conditions. There are lifestyle changes you can make that will help reduce the risk and help treat the problem, should it arise.

Not smoking or quitting Cutting back on alcohol and caffeine Being more active and losing weight Prevent constipation with a diet full of fiber

Forms Of Urinary Incontinence That Affect Men Only

Benign prostatic hyperplasia affects about 50 percent of men over the age of 60, and 90 percent over the age of 85 an enlarged prostate can cause sudden and frequent urges to urinate.
Peyronies disease is the result of injury or damage to penile tissue, causing an abnormal curvature.
Painful inflammation of the prostate gland

Also Check: What Causes Urinary Incontinence At Night

Treatment Options For Urge Urinary Incontinence

The initial management of urge urinary incontinence and OAB is non-surgical.

Pelvic floor exercises
Bladder retraining
Anticholinergic medication

If these measures fail to adequately control urge incontinence or OAB symptoms, surgical treatment options available include:

Botulinum toxin injections into the bladder
Sacral neuromodulation it is hoped that the InterStim device for this problem will be shortly approved for usage in Australia
Bladder surgery

The Mechanics Of Male Incontinence

Uncontrolled Urine/Urinary Incontinence Problems & Treatment for Men & Women | Kims Hospital | TV5

Each type of bladder control issue is caused by different factors. Bladder control problems can be short-term or long-term. Most cases of short-term male incontinence result from a specific health issue or recent treatment. For example, taking certain medications, such as those for colds, depression, sedatives, narcotics and diuretics, can cause short-term bladder control problems.

Chronic male incontinence is a long-term condition, and thus of greater concern to the man who has it and to his urologist as well. Chronic male incontinence issues are often related to prostate problems or treatments for them.

A lot of men I see think urinary incontinence is another of those things that always happens with age. While it is more prevalent at older ages and more than 10 percent of men over 65 have bladder control problems it is not a normal condition.

Lets address why each type of chronic bladder control issue is likely to occur.

Cause of overflow incontinence. Two things can happen: you make more urine than the bladder can hold or the bladder cant empty when it is full. Maybe the bladder muscle cant contract as it should to squeeze the bladder, or there could be something blocking the flow. The result is urine dribbling or only urinating a small amount, but having to do so frequently. An enlarged prostate gland or benign prostate hyperplasia can cause overflow, as can a urethra that is too narrow.

Recommended Reading: Cranberry Juice And Urinary Tract

Urinary Incontinence In Men Facts

*Urinary incontinence in men facts medically edited by Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

The definition of urinary incontinence in men is the unintentional loss of urine. Weak or damaged bladder muscles, overactive bladder muscles, certain prostate conditions, and nerve damage are just some of the possible underlying causes of urinary incontinence in men.
There are different types of urinary incontinence in men, including stress incontinence, urge incontinence, and overflow incontinence. Some men may have one, two, or all three types of incontinence.
Diagnosis of urinary incontinence in men will involve a medical history and physical exam, and may include keeping a bladder diary. It may also include an ultrasound and urodynamic testing.
Treatment of urinary incontinence in men may include behavioral treatments, like bladder training and Kegel exercises, medication, surgery, or a combination of these therapies.
Research is ongoing to discover new and better treatments for urinary incontinence in men.

For the urinary system to do its job, muscles and nerves must work together to hold urine in the bladder and then release it at the right time.

Nerve Problems

Any disease, condition, or injury that damages nerves can lead to urination problems. Nerve problems can occur at any age.

Spinal cord injury may affect bladder emptying by interrupting the nerve signals required for bladder control.

Prostate Problems

Prostate Symptom Scores

Urinary Incontinence Is Common And Treatable

You may have urinary incontinence . Embarrassing? Sure, sometimes. But UI is common in men, with about 1 in 4 experiencing it at some point in their lives. And there are treatments available that work. Almost everyone is a good candidate for one solution or another. But only 1 in 5 men with bladder leakage seeks medical care.

The challenge is finding the solution for you. Learn more about the causes of urinary incontinence in men, helpful solutions to ease the consequences, and treatments that can greatly reduce and in some cases eliminate accidents.

Don’t Miss: What Cause Urinary Tract Infection In Male