Common Reasons for Men’s Incontinence

• Types of Incontinence in Men
• Urinary Incontinence in Men
• Overactive Bladder in Men

Types of Incontinence in Men

Male incontinence can manifest itself in many different ways. It's very important to notify your healthcare provider of your specific symptoms in order to determine the medical root of the problem, develop a subsequent treatment plan, and find the best products to manage your situation. Take a look at the following types of male incontinence:

• Difficulty emptying the bladder or starting the flow of urine: This can be due to a liquid flow obstruction or a weakening of the bladder muscles.
• Decreased or interrupted urine flow: This can occur if the message to evacuate the bladder is interrupted.
• Urgent or sudden need to urinate: This may be caused by overactive bladder, which can make the patient unable to reach the bathroom in time.

While you and your healthcare provider work to determine the cause of your urinary incontinence, protect yourself from discomfort and embarrassing accidents with absorbent undergarments. Tena for Men, Attends Guards, and Depend Guards are all designed specifically for men and will provide peace of mind.

Urinary Incontinence in Men

While incontinence is most common in women, it affects men of all ages. It is estimated that 17% of men over age 60 in the United States experience some form of urinary incontinence. One of the main causes of urinary incontinence in men is benign or malignant prostate diseases and their treatment. With age, the prostate gets larger. Oftentimes, this is not an issue; however, when the enlargement impedes the functioning of the urethra (the pathway carrying urine from the bladder, through the penis, and out of the body), control issues in the form of urine dribbling, increased urgency, and flow problems can occur. Treatment for tumors or cancer in the prostate can also lead to this problem.

There is a variety of products available to manage male incontinence, including adult protective underwear, booster pads, and various kinds of liner pads. Finding the right product for you depends on your degree of control, the frequency and volume of your urinary incidents, and the comfort level you're seeking.

Overactive Bladder in Men

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a type of incontinence that affects both men and women. Symptoms include an urgent and sudden need to urinate, increased frequency of urination, waking in the night to go, and leakage. The root cause of the spasms that occur within the bladder is unknown, but the resulting urgent and frequent need to urinate is highly problematic. Since urinary incontinence itself is not a disease but a symptom, proper diagnosis of the underlying condition is very important. For men, that diagnosis means differentiating between overactive bladder and other potential problems. The most likely suspect is prostatic obstruction.

Prostatic obstruction occurs when the prostate is enlarged and disrupts the normal functioning of the urinary system. It can lead to OAB in men but is often treatable with medication or surgery. In the meantime, while the patient and his healthcare provider determine the best course of action, the use of protective underwear or even a drip collector (like the one made by Conveen, for example) will keep the situation under control (and under wraps).