Male Urinary Incontinence: Causes, Diagnosis, & Treatment
Urinary incontinence (UI) is the unintentional leakage of urine due to damaged or overactive bladder muscles, prostate conditions, and nerve damage. This underlying condition causes a loss of bladder control. Urinary incontinence is more likely experienced by older men than younger ones. An estimate of 11 to 34% of older men has some form of urinary incontinence while 2 to 11% deal with its symptoms daily. For some, they may also experience more than one type of UI. Below are the different types of male incontinence:
- stress incontinence: unintentional loss of urine during movements (such as coughing, sneezing, and lifting) that can cause abdominal pressure on the bladder
- urge incontinence: involuntary loss of urine despite an overwhelming urge to urinate
- overflow incontinence: urinating frequently but in small amounts
- What’s good news is that male incontinence is treatable. It’s better to address the issue by visiting a medical center in Dubai today. To know more about UI in men, continue reading through this blog post. What are its causes? Common causes of UI are;
- weak pelvic floor muscles
- urinary tract infections
- enlarged prostate
- nerve damage
- prostate cancer
- neurological disorders, which can interfere with bladder control signals
Lifestyle factors can result in UI are;
- smoking
- drinking
- lack of physical activity
How is UI diagnosed? To get a diagnosis, your urologist in Dubai will begin by evaluating your medical history. Additional tests include; Physical exam: To identify underlying problems. Digital rectal exam: To find blockages in the rectum and detect an enlarged prostate. Diagnostic tests: To test for any other underlying conditions, urine and blood samples will be needed. How is it treated? There are different treatment options for UI depending on the cause of the condition. Usual treatment plans include lifestyle changes and taking prescribed medications. In some cases, surgery may be deemed as necessary. Lifestyle changes
- Be more physically active.
- Eat a balanced diet.
- Cut back on alcohol and caffeine.
- Stop smoking.
- Drink smaller amounts of beverages at regular intervals.
- Do Kegel exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles.
Surgery Two surgeries are primarily used; Artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) balloon: The AUS balloon will be inserted around the neck of your bladder to block the urinary sphincter until it’s time to urinate. Upon urination, a valve under your skin deflates the balloon that will release the urine and the balloon gets refilled. Sling procedure: To create a pouch for support, a tissue or synthetic material will be placed around the neck of the bladder. This way, the urethra stays closed when you experience stress incontinence. The surgery may take several hours to several days. For faster recovery, you need to follow the urologist’s instructions for healing and recovery. You might need a few days to heal from the surgery, so it’s best to take a rest and refrain from doing strenuous activities until your urologist permits you so. Having male incontinence should not feel like an embarrassment. It is a common medical problem that can be solved by visiting a urologist. We at Marina Medical Center provide treatment for a wide range of conditions affecting both male and female urinary tract and male reproductive organs. Our Urology department covers kidneys, ureter, urinary bladder, urethra, and the male reproductive organs, and treats kidney stones, prostate enlargement, male infertility and incontinence in addition to conducting surgeries for cancers of prostate, bladder, and kidney. Visit us today to get the best consultation and treatment!
