Check if You Facing Frequent Male Urinary Incontinence

Introduction

Urinary incontinence is when the bladder doesn't follow its normal course of releasing or holding urine. Due to this reason, an affected individual leaks urine accidentally. It can happen either due to a blockage in the urinary system or a lack of communication between the brain and the bladder. Besides, it can also happen due to the improper functioning of the muscles around the bladder.

Different kinds of urinary incontinence affect both men and women alike. Some of them are more frequent in men than in women. The age factor is the primary reason for this medical condition in men. Though it sounds concerning on the surface, it is treatable. If it affects your day-to-day activities, the best thing you can do is to see your doctor.

Types of Urinary Incontinence

Urinary continence, regardless of the gender of an affected individual, refers to the accidental leakage of urine. However, distinct forms of the medical condition cause the leakage of urine due to different reasons.

The different kinds of urinary incontinence include the following:

• Stress incontinence: In this form of urinary incontinence, urine may leak due to excess pressure on the bladder due to the stress factor while performing certain activities. Such activities include heavy lifting, exercising, laughing, sneezing, and coughing.
• Urge incontinence: It is primarily due to involuntary urine loss, giving rise to an intense urge for urination. As a result, you may feel the urge to urinate throughout the night. Urge incontinence can be either to diabetes or a neurological disorder, or an infection.
• Overflow incontinence: This form of continence results from when the bladder does not empty normally during urination. You may feel frequent dribbling of urine due to it.
• Functional incontinence: Sometimes, you may not be able to go to the toilet promptly due to a mental or physical impairment. This can happen due to severe arthritis, which may prevent you from quickly unbuttoning your pants.
• Mixed incontinence: Some individuals may experience urinary incontinence due to the combination of multiple forms of the medical condition. This form of incontinence is called mixed incontinence.

Symptoms of Male Urinary Incontinence

Due to male urinary incontinence, some males go through minor urine leaks. On the other hand, some male individuals may also leak urine in small to moderate amounts due to this medical condition.

Frequently, the symptoms of urinary continence indicate the kind of male urinary incontinence in an individual. These include the following:

• Urinating with a slower stream than usual
• Urination with frequent stops in between or the urge to pass urine immediately after urination
• Problems in the storage of urine in the bladder
• The feeling of not completely emptying the bladder

These problems are primarily linked with lower urinary tract symptoms and are commonplace in individuals of either gender. They are more common in men than in women.

What Causes Male Urinary Incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is a universal problem that is commonplace between both genders. In other words, the medical condition affects individuals of either sex. Speaking of male individuals, they can be a candidate for one of the above forms of urinary incontinence plus temporary and persistent urinary incontinence due to the following factors:

• Age
• Everyday habits
• Underlying medical conditions

Temporary and Persistent Urinary Incontinence in Males

Temporary urinary incontinence (TUI) results from certain foods, drinks, and medications. These include the ones given below.

• Caffeine
• Sparkling water and carbonated drinks
• Chocolate
• Artificial sweeteners
• Alcohol
• Spicy, sugary, and acidic foods
• Muscle relaxants, sedatives, and medications for heart and high or low blood pressure
• Excess vitamin C dosage
• Chili peppers

Some treatable medical conditions, such as the ones below, can also cause temporary urinary incontinence.

• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): You may feel irritation in the bladder due to an infection. This can lead to a strong desire in your mind to urinate frequently.
• Constipation: Some nerves are common between the rectum and the bladder. The hard and compact stool makes these nerves overactive, due to which you may feel an increased urge to urinate and display the symptoms of incontinence.

As far as persistent urinary incontinence is concerned, it can be due to certain underlying physical changes in the body. Its reasons may differ for males and females. The following factors are primarily responsible for causing persistent urinary incontinence:

• Changes with age alter or minimize the ability of the bladder to hold urine
• Benign prostatic hyperplasia in older men due to an increase in the size of the prostate gland
• Urge incontinence and stress incontinence are primarily responsible for persistent urinary incontinence
• Treatment for prostate cancer
• Neurological disorders, including a brain tumour, a stroke, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease

Risk Factors for Urinary Incontinence in Males

Certain risk factors increase the possibility of developing urinary incontinence in male individuals. These include the following:

• Age
• The extra weight maximizes the pressure on the bladder and the adjoining muscles
• Smoking
• Diabetes or neurological disease
• Family history or genetics

When Should You See a Doctor?

Discussing urinary incontinence with your doctor can be easier said than done. However, it is necessary as overlooking it can harm the quality of your life. Given the embarrassing problem it is, it can also prompt you to restrict your activities and minimize social interaction with other people.

In some cases, urinary incontinence increases the likelihood of falls in adult individuals, especially those aged. It may also indicate an underlying condition that can be more serious than it appears on the surface.

Usually, it is a good idea to pay a visit to your doctor at your earliest convenience as soon as you start seeing the symptoms. The quicker it is diagnosed, the better. A faster diagnosis of the condition will enable your healthcare provider to administer the right kind of treatment without delay. This can play a decisive role in paving your way to recovery for the improvement in the quality of your life.

Diagnosis of Male Urinary Incontinence

Diagnosis of urinary incontinence in males is necessary for your healthcare provider to decide their next course of action. In the initial stages, they will conduct your physical examination and try to find out more about your family history. They will recommend the following tests:

• Urinalysis
• Bladder diary
• Postvoid residual measurement
• Pelvic ultrasound and urodynamic testing (if your doctor feel the need for additional information)

Most of these tests are required if you opt for surgery. The treatment for urinary incontinence in males depends on the type of incontinence and its extent. Depending on these factors, your healthcare provider may recommend the following treatments:

• Behavioural techniques: Bladder training, double voiding, scheduled toilet trips, and management of fluid and diet
• Exercises: Pelvic floor muscle exercises
• Medications: Anticholinergics, Mirabegron, Alpha-blockers
• Electrical stimulation
• Medical devices: Urethral insert, Pessary
• Interventional therapies: Bulking material injections, nerve simulators, Onabotulinum toxin
• Surgery: Sting procedures, Prolapse surgery, Bladder neck suspension, artificial urinary sphincter
• Absorbent pads: Catheter, protective garments, and pads

Takeaway

Urinary incontinence in men can be due to many factors. Further, they can also be of different types. The treatment of the medical condition depends on its type. It is imperative to see a doctor upon displaying the symptoms for faster recovery.