Incontinence in Men Is Not Uncommon - You are Not alone!
1 In 10 Men in NZ do not have full Bladder control.
The severity of urinary incontinence in men ranges from an annoying dribble after you have finished urinating, to always feeling that your bladder is full, even after you have just been to the toilet. Some men may also experience varying degrees of unexpected urine loss following prostate surgery. Urinary problems affect every part of your life and can lead to some men not wanting to be socially active.
Urinary incontinence is known to affect 13% of men and up to 30% of men over the age of 70 years. Prostate disease is the main reason men experience urinary leakage. Men with enlarged prostates report experiencing urgency, a sudden and powerful urge to go to the toilet that gives you very little time to get to the bathroom and frequency, needing to empty your bladder much more frequently than you think is normal.
Understanding your body makes it easier to take control and get the help you need to live your life as you want. In this Blog, we’ll start out with an overview of male incontinence and the 4 main variations. We will then identify some of the most common causes of male incontinence. Knowing the basics will help you understand your needs and how best to talk with your doctor or health care professional. In many cases, bladder control loss can be cured. Almost all cases can be managed.
Male incontinence types
There are four main Types of Male Incontinence:
Incontinence
Incontinence (poor bladder control) can take several different forms:
- Stress incontinence – when urine leaks with increases in pressure caused by sneezing, laughing, lifting or bending over
- Urgency – when there isn’t enough time to reach a toilet when you feel the urge to pass urine
- Dribbling of urine – which continues after you pass urine
- Constant leakage of urine.
For information about incontinence and what can be done about it, visit the New Zealand Continence Association website.
Difficulty passing urine
Difficulty passing urine can include:
- having a weak flow (so it takes you longer than usual to go to the toilet)
- having a flow that stops and starts.
Male incontinence causes
Male incontinence can be caused by a damaged or narrowing of the urethra, the exit tube from the bladder, nerve damage, infections of the urinary tract or prostate. Many men also experience some short-term urinary incontinence following prostate surgery.
Prostate surgery
Prostate problems and the treatments required to correct them are the most frequent causes of urinary incontinence in men.
Common prostate problems:
- Prostatitis is infection of the prostate gland. This infection is more commonly seen in younger men.
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Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) BPH is not cancer. It is where the prostate increases in size and hardness causing a tightening around the urethra that restrict the flow of urine. This problem usually affects middle-aged men. About 1 in 4 men will need surgery or medical treatment for BPH.
- Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting men. It may not produce urinary incontinence symptoms, however, the highly effective treatments used to cure the cancer often does. In many cases the resulting urinary incontinence will get better but, in some cases, remains.
Because early diagnosis is key to successful treatment, doctors recommend yearly prostate exams for men over the age of 50. Men with a family history of prostate cancer should begin these check-ups at age 40.
Most men have temporary incontinence following surgery for prostate cancer. The degree to which incontinence occurs, and the severity of it, varies with each man. While incontinence can be distressing, there are many treatments and management options available. Using absorbent products will help you maintain a normal lifestyle while you are working to regain bladder control. Our Washable Men's Sports & Boxer Briefs for example, are specially designed for the male anatomy. Environmentally Friendly, washable & Discreet.
men's short style boxer brief – Staydry.co.nz
The good news is that it generally lessens within six months to one year. In many cases, continence is fully restored.
Thankfully Our New Zealand Founded Business www.staydry.co.nz has a Wide Range of effective Washable products available to help from Light to Heavy Bladder loss Including Waterproof protect for around the home or when traveling.
Stay Dry Products was founded back in 1993 From a Personal Pain point of its founder. When caring for a relative & not having easy access to washable sustainable incontinence products in New Zealand Free of Heavy Metals & Phthalate, our business has continued to keep Our Values that of the founder. Client comfort /confidence/ dignity / Confidentially/ Customer service/ Environmentally Conscious.
100% New Zealand Owned & Family Run.
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