Urinary Incontinence Treatments for Men
Urinary incontinence is the accidental leakage for urine from the bladder. Babies, boys, teenagers and adult males can all experience urinary incontinence. As a baby of course, control of the emptying of the bladder has yet to be learnt. In toddlers, young boys and to teenage years, young males can experience enuresis or bedwetting; the unconscious leaking of urine from the bladder. This can often be due to some security or anxiety issues.
Bladder problems in males can have a number of causes and this will also then have a corresponding effect on the choices available for urinary incontinence treatments.
Nerve Damage to Bladder Control
Often some other ailment such as diabetes, stroke, polio, Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis can cause nerve damage to the bladder. This makes the control of the bladder more difficult and results in urinary incontinence. Spinal injuries can also have a similar effect on the bladder.
If the prostate has been removed this can lead to erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence too.
Some urinary incontinence in men can be due to ageing. The muscles of the bladder become weak and less able to hold back urine particularly when the bladder is full.
Male Urinary Incontinence Treatment Options.
The options you have for urinary incontinence treatments varies according to the severity and cause of the incontinence. Some forms of incontinence may be temporary.
Behavioral Treatments for Incontinence
Some incontinence treatments for men will focus on a change of behavior. They will be advised to drink less fluids during certain times of the day, and thereby avoiding filling the bladder. This can also include planning trips to the toilet but being aware of where public toilets are located or arranging to include opportunities to the empty the bladder if travelling.
Rather than coping with the existing situation, some males are able to improve their control by strengthening the muscles associated with the bladder. Kegel exercises, a particular way of strengthening the associated muscles have been found to be effective for some men.
Medication for Urinary Incontinence Treatments
Medication offers another form of urinary incontinence treatment. The medication may slow down the production urine to the bladder. This can be particularly effective for men who have developed over-production of urine. Some men may be taking diuretics for high-blood pressure, and in soing so the urine content increases. Changing this medication can ease the problem. Other medications block nerve signals to the bladder preventing a spasm occurring that previously resulted in incontinence issues.
Surgical Incontinence Treatments
A surgical procedure is the insertion of a balloon type device that is attached to a cuff positioned around the urethra to act as a sphincter. This device when inflated keeps urine in the bladder until it is time to release it. Release of urine is achieved by pressing on a pump that deflates the cuff which is the artificial sphincter.
A newer urinary incontinence treatment is called the Male Sling. It is procedure performed under general anaesthetic, where a mesh is passed through the urethra. It’s used to change the position of the rounded part of the urethra to prevent urine leaking and this treatment is suitable for moderate incontinence.
Urinary Incontinence Treatment Summary
There are a number of options for treating urinary incontinence in men. The choice of treatment will depend on the severity of the problem and the cause of the incontinence. You can find out more from your medical practitioner and discuss the best options about urinary incontinence treatments for men.
Incontinence Help for Men
Incontinence refers to the uncontrolled release of urine or fecal matter. Incontinence in men is quite common once a man has reached a certain age or following some surgical procedures or during and after some particular ailment. Incontinence is the loss of self-control to a lesser or greater degree.
Urinary Incontinence in Men
This is when urine is released unconsciously. The amount of urine released can vary from a small amount to larger quantities. When the bladder fills with urine, the pressure of the quantity of urine can exceed to strength of the urethra in which case urine is leaked. For the majority of people the urethral strength is strong enough to prevent urine leaving the bladder.
Sometimes the act of coughing ,sneezing or hiccupping puts enough pressure on the bladder to lead to some leakage. Indeed anyone can experience leakage when certain conditions come together.
For men with urinary incontinence, it means that the man is unable to prevent urine moving out of the bladder and along the urethra and leaving the body.
Fecal Incontinence in Men
This is the inability to control movements from the bowels. This can be a slight discharge or larger amounts of fecal matter. This loss of control can be due to many factors one of which is age, but often is due to some other ailment. The anal sphincters, the muscles that control opening and closing of the bowels, may have become damaged or weak.
Because of society’s perception of fecal matter and the odour that goes with it, the sufferer may change their social habits and start to withdraw or suffer anxiety in anticipation of social situations.
Possible Causes of Incontinence in Men
There are number of ailments or conditions that can lead to temporary or permenant incontinence in men. Nerve damage can be caused by diabetes, strokes, constipation, cancer and multiple sclerosis. Diarrhoea is a loose stool that is more difficult to contain and therefore loose stools may escape if diarrhoea is a temporary issue or a feature of another ailment.
Urinary incontinence in men can be caused by the surgical procedure to remove a cancerous or enlarged prostate gland. The body might be producing excessive urine the causes of which are mellitus, diabetes or excessive drinking of fluids.
Help for Incontinence in Men
There is hope for incontinence sufferers. Some men are able to recover their urinary bladder control through pelvic floor exercises and other methods. Some forms of incontinence are temporary and will pass. Many types of urinary incontinence in men is treatable.
With fecal incontinence the treatments may involve dietary changes, medication or surgery or a combination of these. Kegel exercises might be recommended to strengthen the sphincter muscles.
In all cases of incontinence there are various products that help manage the condition such as incontinence pads, adult diapers, shields or discrete collectors of urine.
If you suspect you have a urinary or fecal issue it’s vital to seek appropriate treatment as early as possible to obtain the best solution for incontinence in men.