Men’s Health: Urinary Incontinence

The accidental release of urine, otherwise referred to as urinary incontinence affects approximately 13 million Americans. Bladder control problems are not related to a specific disease, but rather a symptom of a urinary tract problem. Once considered a natural part of aging, today health professionals are dispelling this outdated concept by providing valuable information and treatment options.

There are three major classifications for male urinary incontinence: Stress Incontinence occurs when we sneeze, laugh, cough, lift heavy objects or participate in other activities that cause increased stress on the bladder.

Urge incontinence is a strong urge to urinate. Often the feeling is so intense that it is hard to make it to the bathroom in time. An overactive bladder; frequent trips to the bathroom, is similar to urge incontinence but does not necessarily cause urine leakage.

Men's Prostate Health

Overflow incontinence occurs when the bladder fails to empty completely. This can be caused by a blockage, weak bladder muscles, enlargement of the prostate, or scar tissue that causes a narrowing of the urethra.

Male urinary incontinence can be triggered by excessive consumption of alcohol which relaxes the bladder muscles. Additionally, the use of medications such as diuretics, sedatives, cold medicine, diet medicines, or antidepressants can also cause the accidental release of urine.

It is fairly easy to find out the cause by taking a trip to your family doctor. They will check your medical history, give you a physical exam, and perform some simple diagnostic tests. The information they attain will help them determine the cause of your male urinary incontinence. If they detect more than one problem or the urinalysis is unclear the may want to do additional testing.

Male bladder control problems are usually very easy to treat. Treatment options will vary depending on the type of incontinence problems you are having and how it is affecting the different aspects of your life. Bladder control and urinary incontinence is ranked number 3 on the scale of men’s most embarrassing health issues. For this reason men are reluctant to seek help and simply chose to ignore it. But in reality the problem should not be ignored, without proper treatment the condition will only become more problematic. Health professionals strongly advise all men with symptoms to seek help to control their incontinence problems before they worsen.