With TENA pants you can meet the needs of every single customer. That’s better care for everyone.
Helping men with incontinence keep control
1 in 4 men experience some form of urine leakage1, but only 5-7% of them use purpose-made protection2. This gap provides a great opportunity in which TENA Men can help you support men with incontinence and grow your business. That's better care for everyone.
Destigmatising male incontinence
‘Urinary leakage is common in men, especially later in life, but many men still remain undiagnosed and hence lack the benefits of modern management,’ says Professor Ian Milsom, Director of the Gothenburg Continence Research Centre.
‘Often men are ashamed of their problem or they are unaware that help is available,’ says Professor Milsom.
Destigmatising incontinence can support your male customers’ wellbeing, and increase the likelihood of them buying the right product from you again and again.
Men are opening up about sensitive health issues
2/3
men are unaware that purpose-made incontinence products for them even exists(3)
3/5
men want to talk about bladder issues with a professional like you(4)
1/3
men would prefer to consult with a pharmacist, rather than booking a doctor's appointment(5)
Causes and types of male incontinence
There are lots of types of male incontinence mostly affecting men over 40. Here are a few of the most common.
Please note: it’s best to recommend a visit to a doctor or health care professional to explore possible causes of incontinence, and possible treatments.
Urge urinary incontinence
Urge or urgency incontinence is defined as the involuntary loss of urine associated with a strong desire or urgency to urinate. It can be hard to define a cause as there are many different factors that cause urgency, from UTIs, to medication, to an enlarged prostate.
Of course, drinking too much can lead to frequent toilet visits, but so can drinking too little, as urine gets too concentrated and irritates the bladder lining.
Stress urinary incontinence (SUI)
SUI occurs when pressure is put on the bladder, e.g. during exercise or a sneeze, and the pelvic floor muscles can’t support the urinary tract as needed to prevent leakage. It’s the most common type of incontinence in women - in men, it’s usually a side effect of prostate surgery.
Post micturition dribble
Some men experience drips and dribbles after visiting the toilet. This happens if there is any urine remaining in the urethra after urinating.
Terminal dribble
This is when the urine flow slows to a trickle or dribble which is hard to shut off and finish.
Neurogenic bladder
Problems associated with brain function (such as MS or Parkinson’s) and damage to the spinal cord or nerves can reduce bladder control.
Overflow urinary incontinence
Overflow urinary incontinence occurs when the bladder cannot empty completely and is filled over its capacity. This causes overexpansion of the bladder and involuntary leakage, and is usually related to an enlarged prostate. Symptoms may include; difficulty in starting to urinate, feeling that the bladder isn’t empty after urinating, an interrupted or weak urine stream and frequent night time urination. It might also be a result of certain types of medications or nerve damage.
Meet the customer - Peter's story
Male incontinence is more common than you might think, especially in men over 40. Peter is one of the 1 in 4 men who experience incontinence. Here's how it affected him.
Recommending the right product
TENA Men offers discreet protection from light to heavy urine leakage, with a broad range of pads and pants. Engineered especially for men's bodies, the range locks in leaks and effectively controls odour. So whatever your customer needs, TENA Men has the right product for them.
Find out more here
How to talk to men about urine leakage
TENA has been leading the conversation about incontinence for over 60 years. We've used that experience to put together a guide full of advice to help you get your male customers talking, so that you can recommend the best product for them.
Download conversation guide now
If the condition seems to be severe, it's important to refer the customer to a doctor.
Related reading
References
1Male Urinary Incontinence Prevalence Study 2013 (US,UK,DE,IT,FR,MX,RU).
2Irwin DE et al, Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC. Worldwide prevalence estimates of lower urinary tract symptoms, overactive bladder, urinary incontinence and bladder outlet obstruction. September 14; 2010
3Gfk. Male Consumer Journey, DE, 2012. Data on file.
4Men Consumer Journey research, 2012, Germany, 608 interviews
5Healthwatch Cornwall, Community Pharmacies in, Cornwall Report, October 2015