Male incontinence - An introduction
One in every four men over 40 years old* deals with urine leakage, also known as incontinence. The best way to find a solution is to learn more about the causes and types of male incontinence.
One in every four men over 40 years old* deals with urine leakage, also known as incontinence. The best way to find a solution is to learn more about the causes and types of male incontinence.
Urge incontinence is the most common type of incontinence in men and refers to a sudden, intense urge to urinate followed by involuntary leakage. One of the main causes of urge incontinence in men is an enlarged prostate, which causes bladder-emptying difficulties, and gives you the sensation of needing to pass urine when you don’t want to, including during the night. In some cases, such urges may be the result of bladder irritation from an infection or bladder stones. It can also develop as a complication of a nerve- or brain-related illness such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, or multiple sclerosis.
Stress incontinence refers to involuntary leakage that occurs when you exert pressure on your bladder by for example sneezing, laughing or lifting something heavy. The sphincter or pelvic floor muscles and ligaments that support the bladder are too weak to hold urine in. This type of incontinence is not generally common in men but may develop in some men after prostate surgery.
There are different ways to improve your bladder control. Diagnosing and treating an enlarged prostate is one of the most important. Doing pelvic floor exercises and restricting your intake of alcohol and caffeine are two more examples. The best way to start regaining control is to consult your doctor so that you can find the best solution for your specific situation.
You can also find more helpful tips and advice as well as useful exercises on our website.
* Based on survey conducted by Essity in 2012, with men over 40 in the US, UK Germany, Italy, Russia and Mexico. Data on file not published.