Stress Incontinence in Men
JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER
Receive custom tools to help you manage your condition and get the latest in bladder and bowel health from NAFC!
MALE STRESS URINARY INCONTINENCE
Before we get into the details on Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) 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 it’s time to pee. While the bladder muscle squeezes, the sphincter (yes, you have more than one) relaxes, allowing the urine to be released. Any sort of physical stress on the system can cause urine to be released unintentionally. That’s SUI.
CAUSES
In men, the biggest cause of SUI results from a procedure to remove a benign or cancerous prostate that has enlarged, resulting in difficulties urinating. Most medical minds agree that this manifests in one of two ways. Either damage to the urinary sphincter leads to incontinence or the removal of physical support creates functional problems for the sphincter when the prostate gland is removed. This is known as post-prostatectomy incontinence.
When the strength of the sphincter muscle is compromised, urine may leak through the urethra. Under pressure to the bladder, such as with a golf swing or a sneeze, leakage may be slight. However, depending on the severity of damage, the impaired sphincter could allow a steady stream of urine, enough to soak your underwear.
Click here to download your free brochure on stress urinary incontinence in men, including information about its causes and treatment options.
TREATMENT OPTIONS
To pinpoint the culprit in your SUI, your physician can perform diagnostic tests to evaluate function and exact cause of the leakage. Along with a physical exam and medical history, other tools such as a urine flow test, blood tests, cystoscopy, and urodynamic testing may be used to develop a clearer picture. It may also be helpful to keep a diary to document your urinary habits. Once diagnosed, there are several treatment options available.
While loss of bladder control after prostate surgery may be a devastating complication which can have a significant, negative impact on quality of life, men should feel encouraged by the increasing number of treatment and management options available to them. With appropriate evaluation and treatment, problems with SUI are usually treatable so that dignity and quality of life can be restored. Regardless of the treatment option selected, men should continue pelvic muscle exercises to optimize the degree of continence attained as well as for sexual performance and vitality.
MANAGEMENT
With the increased attention on incontinence issues, incredible progress and innovation have been made in the arena of products for everyday use.
Click here to read more about male products for stress urinary incontinence.
BEHAVIORAL MODIFICATIONS
Fluid management. With supervision from your physician, reducing amount of dietary irritants (coffee, colas, etc.) as well as limiting fluid intake while maintaining 6-8 8oz. glasses of water a day may help to reduce symptoms.
NON-INVASIVE TREATMENT
SURGICAL TREATMENT
Male Sling. A mesh implant that compresses the urethra and moves it, allowing for better function.
Artificial Urinary Sphincter. An inflatable cuff that allows the man to control the flow of urine, releasing the cuff when time to urinate, then inflating to keep leakage from occurring.
PHARMACEUTICAL TREATMENT
Want to LEARN MORE? Check out OuR Webinar!
Hear from Dr. Herman Bagga, MD FACS about Male Stress Urinary Incontinence. In this webinar Dr. Bagga outlines signs and symptoms, causes and discusses the full range of treatment options.
Developed in partnership with NAFC & Boston Scientific.
RELATED ARTICLES
How to Choose the Best Incontinence Products: A Complete Comparison
Bladder control problems are common in both men and women, yet most people are left scratching their head at the pharmacy shelf, overwhelmed by options. The right choice usually depends on many factors like the type/level of leakage, mobility, daily routine and more.
That’s a lot to weigh in on, so some direction can be helpful. Drawing from hands-on care experience, this guide compares the six main product types so you can get the best incontinence products to suit your needs.
Ask The Expert: From A Doctor’s Perspective What Are Some Common Questions You Hear?
If you’ve ever sneezed and held your breath hoping for the best, you’re not alone. Bladder leaks, pelvic floor issues, and the constellation of symptoms that go with them are incredibly common — and incredibly under-discussed. We sat down with two of our favorite experts who are changing the bladder leak conversation: Dr. Barbara Frank, Attn: Grace medical advisor and board certified OB/GYN, and Dr. Sara Reardon, pelvic floor physical therapist (and the woman your pelvic floor has been waiting to meet). They took turns asking each other the questions their patients ask most — and answered them with the same candor they bring to the exam room. They cover everything from how to prepare for postpartum, to what question to ask your own pelvic floor PT, to how to manage incontinence during menopause. This is a knowledge drop you don’t want to miss.
Why So Many Women Put Themselves Last — and Why It Matters
Women are often the caregivers, planners, problem-solvers, and emotional anchors for everyone around them. They manage households, careers, children, aging parents, relationships, schedules, and responsibilities that rarely stop.
And somewhere in the middle of taking care of everyone else, many women quietly stop taking care of themselves.
They ignore symptoms. Delay appointments. Push through exhaustion. Normalize discomfort. Tell themselves they’ll deal with it “later.”
But later can turn into years.
This Women’s Health Month, it’s worth asking:
When was the last time you truly prioritized your own health
How to Choose the Best Incontinence Products: A Complete Comparison
Bladder control problems are common in both men and women, yet most people are left scratching their head at the pharmacy shelf, overwhelmed by options. The right choice usually depends on many factors like the type/level of leakage, mobility, daily routine and more.
That’s a lot to weigh in on, so some direction can be helpful. Drawing from hands-on care experience, this guide compares the six main product types so you can get the best incontinence products to suit your needs.