Condition

Male Incontinence

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Experiencing a sudden, urgent need to urinate and struggling to make it to the toilet in time? Experiencing excessive urination at night? Leaking urine? Male incontinence is more common than you might think.

Living with male incontinence

Male incontinence, also known as bladder leakage or urinary incontinence, is defined as any sort of involuntary leaking of urine. We understand that it can get in the way of your everyday life and may cause you to feel self-conscious or even embarrassed. Fortunately, there are treatment options that could help you regain control of your bladder and your life.

Types of male incontinence and their symptoms

Most men who have been diagnosed with urinary incontinence have either one or a combination of different types of incontinence.

  • Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) occurs when physical movement or activity –such as coughing, laughing, sneezing, or heavy lifting – puts pressure or stress on your bladder. 
  • SUI is not related to psychological stress. 
  • The most common cause of stress urinary incontinence in men is a prostatectomy, the surgical removal of the prostate gland to treat prostate cancer.

  • Urge incontinence, also known as overactive bladder (OAB), is when you have an overwhelming need to urinate.
  • This may prevent you reaching the toilet in time. 
  • Causes of OAB include damage to the bladder’s nerves, damage to other parts of the nervous system, and damage to the muscles. Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, and stroke can also affect nerves and lead to urge incontinence.

  • Mixed urinary incontinence is when you have symptoms of both stress urinary incontinence and urge incontinence. 
  • Includes leaking urine when you sneeze, cough, laugh, exercise, or lift something heavy, and leaking urine after a sudden urge to urinate, while you sleep, after drinking water, or hearing or touching water. 
  • Mixed incontinence shares the causes of both SUI and urge incontinence.

  • When you are unable to fully empty your bladder, causing leaking.
  • You may feel like your bladder is still full after you pee.
  • This is often caused by something blocking the urine from leaving the bladder.
  • Most common cause in men is an enlarged prostate.

Have you been diagnosed with incontinence?

Most common causes of male incontinence

Some of the most common causes of incontinence in men include:

Benign prostate enlargement

Some men develop a condition called benign prostate enlargement (BPE) that causes the prostate to grow larger than normal. This can put pressure on the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body, and cause issues with urinary retention (inability to void) that lead to male incontinence.

 

Prostate surgery

Prostate surgery is a common treatment for prostate cancer. In some instances, this surgery can cause damage to the bladder or nearby area that results in urinary problems like male incontinence.

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy for prostate cancer can cause urinary incontinence, bowel (faecal) incontinence, or erectile dysfunction. This is because the radiation can penetrate the healthy tissues and cause side effects including needing to go to the toilet more often, sometimes with little to no notice.

Additional causes of male incontinence

  • Neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis.
  • Taking certain medications such as some ACE inhibitors and antidepressants.
  • Drinking too much caffeine or alcohol.
  • Pelvic trauma from a car crash, fall, or straddle injuries (injuries to the area between the legs).

 

Treatments for male incontinence

Find the right treatment for you

We know that incontinence issues can be embarrassing, but there are a range of treatments that may help you to regain control of your bladder and your day-to-day life.

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A physician explains unrinary incontinance to her elderly patients

Find a urologist for incontinence near you

Your urologist can help you to discover the cause of your incontinence and recommend treatments options for you to try.

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Frequently asked questions about male incontinence

Your urologist will ask about your symptoms to help determine the type of male incontinence you have. For example, if you find yourself suddenly needing to urinate with no warning, you may have urge incontinence which can be caused by damage to the bladder’s nerves or surrounding muscles. Your urologist will help you to determine the cause of your incontinence so that you can get the right diagnosis and recommended treatment options.

Your urologist will look at your medical history and symptoms and may perform a physical exam to diagnose your male incontinence. They will usually ask you to provide a urine sample for analysis and you may need further tests such as x-rays or blood tests.

There are a range of treatment options for male incontinence. Your urologist will recommend a treatment based on their diagnosis of the cause of your incontinence issues. Treatment options may include making positive lifestyle changes – such as reducing alcohol intake and maintaining a healthy weight – or using devices like penile clamps. If you are looking for a longer-term solution, you may wish to consider incontinence treatments like the male sling system or an artificial urinary sphincter.

Yes. Male incontinence becomes more common in middle age and is very common in people over the age of 80. Men’s health conditions like BPE and prostate cancer are also more common in older men; both of these can result in continence issues.

There are a few factors which can increase your risk of developing incontinence problems including a family history of continence issues and lower urinary tract symptoms, both of which are symptoms that affect the bladder and urethra.

A deep dive into male incontinence​

A leaking bladder can make you feel frustrated, embarrassed, and unable to live life to the fullest. Take a look at why incontinence occurs and what you can do to take back control.

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A physician explains unrinary incontinance to her elderly patients

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