How Effective Is Treatment For Urinary Urgency And Frequent Urination
Overall, more than 95% of the time, our experienced Urologists at New York Urology Specialists are able to determine the cause and successfully treat urinary urgency symptoms in men.
Medications to stop frequent and constant urge to urinate are effective in 70-80% of men with an enlarged prostate. The efficacy of medications depends on how long the symptoms have been present, which is usually related to the severity of the problem.
If medications do not help, procedures can usually help most of the patients with symptoms of the constant urge to urinate.
For men with enlarged prostate causing constant urination during the day and at night, the Rezum procedure and Urolift for BPH procedure can help. Prostate laser surgery is usually very effective in treating both urinary urgency and frequent urination symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate. Most commonly performed prostate laser surgery procedures include such effective treatments as Greenlight laser, Holmium Laser, ProTouch laser enucleation, and HoLAP.
While other procedures for enlarged prostate have been done, they are currently still being studies. These include Aquablation for BPH which has efficacy similar to bipolar TURP. I-Tind procedure for an enlarged prostate has been shown to have efficacy similar to Urolift and Rezum procedures. Newer methods of prostatic artery embolization appear to be effective for some men with an enlarged prostate.
Pad And Underwear Options
The product you choose should depend on your symptoms. For severe urinary incontinence, the ideal choice may be highly absorbent guards or disposable underwear. Guys with milder symptoms may need less protection. Drip collectors are disposable padded sheaths that go around the penis they’re good for slight leaking or dribbling. Pads can be tucked into underwear and attached with adhesive tabs. They’re designed for light to moderate leaking.
How Is Urinary Urgency And Frequency Treated
Treatment will depend on the type and cause of your urination problems. You may need any of the following:
- Medicines may be given to relax your bladder and decrease urination. You may also need antibiotics if your symptoms are caused by a bacterial infection.
- Sacral nerve stimulation sends electrical signals to your sacral nerve through a small device implanted under your skin. Your sacral nerve controls your bladder, sphincter, and pelvic floor muscles.
- Botox injections into your bladder may help relax your bladder muscle to decrease urgency and frequency.
- Surgery may be done if all other treatments cannot help you control your bladder.
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Other Causes Of Oab In Men
An enlarged prostate is the cause of OAB in most men, but there are numerous other factors that can lead to symptoms. An infection in the bladder, bladder stones, or bladder cancer can all cause OAB. Neurological conditions, such as a stroke or Parkinsons disease, can also lead to OAB because of nerve damage that results in sending incorrect signals to the bladder.
Its also possible for temporary factors to cause symptoms of OAB. If you drink a lot of fluids, especially those that are caffeinated or contain alcohol, if you take medications that increase urine output, or if you are constipated, you might experience an increased need to urinate.
Pelvic Floor Muscle Training
Your pelvic floor muscles are the muscles you use to control the flow of urine as you urinate. They surround the bladder and urethra .
Weak or damaged pelvic floor muscles can cause urinary incontinence, so exercising these muscles is often recommended.
Your GP may refer you to a specialist to start a programme of pelvic floor muscle training.
Your specialist will assess whether you are able to squeeze your pelvic floor muscles and by how much. If you can contract your pelvic floor muscles, you will be given an individual exercise programme based on your assessment.
Your programme should include doing a minimum of eight muscle contractions at least three times a day and doing the recommended exercises for at least three months. If the exercises are helping after this time, you can keep on doing them.
Research suggests that women who complete pelvic floor muscle training experience fewer leaking episodes and report a better quality of life.
In men, some studies have shown that pelvic floor muscle training can reduce urinary incontinence particularly after surgery to remove the prostate gland.
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How Is Urinary Incontinence Diagnosed
Urinary incontinence is easy to recognize. The primary symptom most people experience is an involuntary release of urine. But the type and cause of the incontinence can be more difficult to determine and may require a variety of exams and tests. Most physicians will use the following:
A bladder diary Your doctor may have you track your fluid intake and output over several days. This may include any episodes of incontinence or urgency issues. To help you measure the amount of urine you pass during an episode of incontinence, you may be asked to use a calibrated container that fits over your toilet to collect the urine.
Urinalysis A urine sample can be checked for infections, traces of blood, or other abnormalities, such as the presence of cancer cells. A urine culture can assess for infection urine cytology looks for cancer cells.
Blood testsBlood tests can look for chemicals and substances that may relate to conditions causing the incontinence.
Pelvic ultrasound In this imaging test, an ultrasound device is used to create an image of the bladder or other parts of the urinary tract to check for problems.
Postvoid residual measurement In this procedure, the patient empties the bladder completely and the physician uses a device to measure how much urine, if any, remains in the bladder. A large amount of residual urine in the bladder suggests overflow incontinence.
UI is usually curable, and if not, then controllable.
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Overactive Bladder In Men: Causes Diagnosis And Treatment
What is an overactive bladder?
Overactive bladder is a relatively common condition. Typical symptoms include frequent urination, frequent nighttime urination, persistent urge to urinate, and urine leakage or incontinence.
An estimated 33 million Americans have OAB, reports the Urology Care Foundation, and as many as 30 percent of men experience symptoms. Its possible that even more men have the condition, but never seek help. If you suspect you have OAB, talk to your doctor. There are a variety of treatments options that may help.
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What Is Meant By Frequent Urination In Men
Urination is our bodys natural mechanism of getting rid of waste fluids. Your urinary tract includes your kidneys, bladder, ureters and urethra.
Urine is produced in the kidneys where the waste and toxins are filtered from the blood. Then the urine flows through the ureters and gets stored in the bladder. Through the urethra, the urine is passed from the bladder and out of our bodies. On average, a person urinates nearly 4-8 times during the day.
Frequent urination in men is exactly what the name entails. It is majorly a symptom of an underlying condition that causes a person to pass urinate several times throughout a day. In this condition, a man experiences a reduced ability to hold urine in the bladder and an increased urge to pass urine.
Frequent urination is often associated with an underlying health condition. It can even compel you to wake up several times in the night to urinate. The condition in which your bladder forces you to wake up in the middle of the night is known as nocturia.
What Causes Urinary Urgency And Frequency
- A urinary tract injury or infection , or a chronic bladder infection
- Infection in your urethra, or urine leaking from your urethra
- A nerve problem, or radiation treatment for cancer
- A medical condition, such as bladder cancer, diabetes, or a stroke
- Anxiety
- In women, pregnancy, menopause, or a vaginal infection
- In men, prostate infections, swelling, or enlargement
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Treatment For Urinary Problems
If your urinary problems are caused by infection or enlargement of the prostate gland, treatment may include:
- a long course of antibacterial medication because infection is difficult to get rid of, the antibacterial medication will need to be taken for many weeks
- medication to improve urine flow and other symptoms
- surgical procedures the type of surgery required depends on the size of the prostate and the condition of the urethra. Types of procedures include:
- transurethral resection of the prostate
- transurethral incision of the prostate
- laser resection of the prostate
- open surgery prostatectomy
- removal of prostate tissue using water jets or steam
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- The prostate gland is a male reproductive organ that produces fluids to feed and protect sperm cells.
- Many men experience urinary changes as they age. In many cases, these changes do not need specific treatment.
- When urinary changes cause problems, they can be treated successfully by lifestyle changes, medication, surgery or a combination of the three.
- For problems such as blood in the urine, pain on urination, inability to urinate or uncontrollable urine flow, see your doctor promptly.
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Causes Of Stress Incontinence
Stress incontinence is when the pressure inside your bladder as it fills with urine becomes greater than the strength of your urethra to stay closed. Your urethra is the tube that urine passes through to leave the body.
Any sudden extra pressure on your bladder, such as laughing or sneezing, can cause urine to leak out of your urethra if you have stress incontinence.
Your urethra may not be able to stay closed if the muscles in your pelvis are weak or damaged, or if your urethral sphincter the ring of muscle that keeps the urethra closed is damaged.
Problems with these muscles may be caused by:
- damage during childbirth particularly if your baby was born vaginally, rather than by caesarean section
- increased pressure on your tummy for example, because you are pregnant or obese
- damage to the bladder or nearby area during surgery such as the removal of the womb , or removal of the prostate gland
- neurological conditions that affect the brain and spinal cord, such as Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis
- certain connective tissue disorders such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
- certain medicines
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: A Problem With Muscles
When the muscles of the pelvic floor arent working properly, it can cause pain, discomfort and other symptoms in the pelvic organs and nearby locations like the lower back. Relaxation of the pelvic muscles can cause symptoms such as urinary or fecal incontinence. But recent research reveals that, in many cases, the cause of wide-ranging pelvic pain and discomfort is actually caused by excessive tightness in the pelvic muscles, causing knots to form in muscle tissues.
These knots, called trigger points, can form in any muscle tissue, and they can often be easily felt in places like the neck or shoulders. In the pelvis and other areas, these points cause pain and irritation in surrounding nerves and tissues. Standard medical approaches to treating pelvic floor dysfunctions include medication such as muscle relaxants, exercises such as yoga, pelvic floor physical therapy, and even surgery. But these techniques arent always effective and symptoms can return.
Our patients often try and make lifestyle or dietary changes hoping to address the problem. Removing items like alcohol, caffeine or gluten may help alleviate but often is not addressing the underlying muscular issues. Items like alcohol or caffeine can often lead to conditions like interstitial cystitis, which then can lead to pelvic floor dysfunction. So removing them may help address one concern but not the other.
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How Soon After Starting Kegel Exercises Will Urinary Incontinence Get Better
It may take 4 to 6 weeks before you notice any improvement in your symptoms.10
Kegel exercises work differently for each person. Your symptoms may go away totally, you may notice an improvement in your symptoms but still have some leakage, or you may not see any improvement at all. But even if your symptoms dont get better, Kegel exercises can help prevent your incontinence from getting worse.
You may need to continue doing Kegel exercises for the rest of your life. Even if your symptoms improve, urinary incontinence can come back if you stop doing the exercises.
What Causes Frequent Urination In Men
Urination is a complex process involving different nerves, organs, and muscles, and many factors may cause frequent urination in men.
Under normal conditions, it can be caused by drinking too much fluid, especially those that contain caffeine or alcohol. It could also be just a habit, as some people usually urinate more often than others. Some drugs like diuretics can also cause it.
However, if frequent urination cannot be explained and if it happens all the time, then it could be a symptom of a serious condition.
It might be caused by anxiety, stroke, diseases of the nervous system, and bladder dysfunction.
Other causes include heart failure, Addisons disease, chronic glomerulonephritis, primary hyperaldosteronism, diabetes mellitus, and diabetes insipidus.
For men, the most common causes are diabetes and an enlarged prostate.
An enlarged prostate is also called benign prostatic hyperplasia . As the prostate gets larger, it puts pressure on the urethra and blocks the normal flow of urine.
Frequent urination happens because the bladder has to contract more to push urine. Over time, it becomes overly sensitive and contracts even if it contains a small amount of urine.
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Can Pelvic Floor Exercises Treat Urge Incontinence
Yes, pelvic floor exercises can strengthen your muscles that support your urinary system. These exercises can improve symptoms.
Its important to target and use the correct muscles . A physical therapist who specializes in pelvic floor disorders can teach you the proper technique. This healthcare provider may use biofeedback to ensure you get the most benefit from the exercises. It can take four to six weeks to see improvements.
While some people need to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, others have spasm or excess tension in the pelvic floor muscles that can make their overactive bladder worse. In this case, you can work with a pelvic floor physical therapist on relaxing and coordinating these muscles.
Schedule An Appointment With Dr Shteynshlyuger:
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Dr. Alex Shteynshlyuger is a fellowship trained board-certified urologist with expertise in evaluation and treatment of urinary problems in men. He uses modern effective and proven treatment methods including prostate enucleation and Urolift for BPH. He is highly recommended by top primary care physicians in the New York area.
He has successfully performed hundreds of prostate procedures in adults. Urolift procedures are performed in the office under local anesthesia, in a surgical center and affiliated hospitals under anesthesia.
If you or someone you know has been experiencing urological symptoms, to take advantage of Dr. Shteynshlyugers expert advice. Please feel free to Contact Us with any questions.
If you have any questions, to schedule a consultation or if you need a second opinion, pleasecontact us or call:
We offer affordable, highest-quality urology care with or without insurance. Find out our . We offer weekday, weekend, and evening office hours.
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Frequent Urination In Men
Frequent urination is defined as an increased need to go to the toilet its a common problem, especially for men over 50.
As you get older, you need to urinate more often and especially produce more urine overnight. Your sleep may be disturbed as you to wake up to go to the toilet . Passing urine more frequently can simply be a result of drinking over the recommended 1.5 litres of fluids a day1 or taking on fluids towards the end of the day. Urine production will be stimulated by high intake of diuretics such as caffeine, alcohol or certain medications such as those used to treat high blood pressure.
If frequent urination begins to negatively impact your lifestyle or you are experiencing other symptoms including pain, fever, red or dark brown urine or loss of bladder control, you should consult your doctor.
What Are The Types Of Urinary Incontinence
There are different types of urinary incontinence. All of them cause you to leak urine uncontrollably.
- Stress incontinence causes urine to leak because of pressure on the bladder from coughing, laughing or physical activity.
- Mixed incontinence occurs when you have both urge and stress incontinence. More than half of women with urge incontinence also have stress incontinence.
- Overflow incontinence causes you to leak urine because your bladder is too full or you cant completely empty it.
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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.
Prostate Problems
Prostate Symptom Scores