Incontinence can be an embarrassing and very inconvenient problem. Although it most commonly affects women, it’s prevalent in the male population as well. Many men are too shy or embarrassed to seek help with conditions like incontinence, but that shouldn’t be the case, as generally, it’s readily curable.
This article is going to take a closer look at male incontinence, as well as effective ways to treat the issue and resolve it.
What Is Male Incontinence?
Incontinence in men is an accidental leakage of urine. It could be a small dribble or a bladder full, depending on the severity of the problem. Incontinence is not some sort of disease.
It’s an issue with the urinary tract, which can include the muscles nearby. Although the problem is more common in older males, it can happen to younger men as well.
There are 5 types of incontinence in men and they are as follows:
- Stress incontinence – This is where some urine squeezes its way out due to something sudden, such as a coughing fit or a sneeze, or even from heavy lifting
- Urge incontinence – An unusually desperate urge to urinate that doesn’t give you much time to make it to the bathroom before urine leaks out
- Overflow incontinence – This is where the bladder continues to leak and dribble
- Urinary frequency – You find you’re needing to use the toilet more often than normal, even without drinking a lot of liquid
- An overactive bladder – When a bladder is said to be overactive, it’s a combination of both urge incontinence and urinary frequency
What Causes Incontinence In Men?
Let’s now take a look at some common causes of incontinence in men.
Having a bladder or urinary tract infection can lead to developing incontinence. Some medications used to treat a UTI can also cause incontinence.
Obesity is said to be another contributing factor, as the excess body weight can interfere with normal bodily functions, making them inefficient. Constipation is another contributing factor.
A very common reason men (or anyone) develops incontinence problems is when the pelvic floor muscles become weak. It’s these muscles that control bladder flow and if they’re weak for any reason, the muscles may not be able to stop the involuntary flow of urine from the bladder to the penis.
Incontinence can also occur following either an injury to the groin region, or having had surgery in the groin area, such as a recent hernia repair.
In men, enlargement of the prostate gland can also result in incontinence problems. Prostate enlargement can be benign and doesn’t always indicate prostate cancer, but be sure to get checked out by a doctor.
Effective Treatment of Male Incontinence
The good news when it comes to male incontinence is that it generally can be cured.
If the problem stems from having weakened pelvic floor muscles, there are some simple exercises you can do to strengthen these muscles. Once strengthened and you keep up the exercises, it usually resolves your incontinence problem.
If pelvic muscle exercises cannot solve the issue, there are some other options that you can discuss with a medical professional.
One is known as the “sling procedure”, where an artificial sling is inserted to support the urethra. This procedure is particularly effective for men suffering from stress incontinence. The sling helps to prevent urine leakage when stress is placed upon the body.
A second procedure is the artificial urinary sphincter, which is deployed in cases of severe urinary incontinence. It’s basically a small reservoir and pump assembly that helps to control urine flow.
Where To Find Treatment?
You can discuss your incontinence problem with your GP or consult a urologist, a specialist in this field. To find a recommended urologist in your area, just search for one online. As an example, if you’re in Sydney, try the following search terms:
- Male urinary incontinence treatment Sydney
- Sydney urologist
- Urologists in Sydney
- And so on…
Just replace “Sydney” with your town or city to find a urologist near you.
In Conclusion
If you’re suffering from any form of male incontinence, don’t just put up with it. Incontinence is curable, so seek help from a medical expert and resolve your incontinence problem today.
