Urinary incontinence, the uncontrolled leakage of urine, is more prevalent in women but does also occur in men. Incontinence can be caused by damage to the muscles or nerves in the urinary system or by prostate problems. There are many treatment available to men including behavioral modifications, medications, devices and surgeries.
Behavioral
Some men can find relief from urinary incontinence through bladder training. Bladder training utilizes a combination of limited fluid intake with timed trips to the bathroom. As your bladder muscles gain more control you can lengthen the time between bathroom trips. In addition, performing Kegel exercises, which help strengthen the pelvic muscles, can enable the bladder to hold in more urine for longer periods of time.
Medications
There are several medications effective in controlling male urinary incontinence. Because each type of medication works in a different way, it is important to know the cause of your incontinence. Alpha-blockers, such as Flomax, are used to treat incontinence caused by the obstruction of the bladder outlet by an enlarged prostate. 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, such as Proscar, decrease the production of the male hormone DHT, thereby shrinking an enlarged prostate.
Antispasmodics, such as Ditropan or Enablex, relieve muscle spasms and relax the bladder muscle. Tricyclic antidepressants, such as Imipramine, can relieve muscle spasms by relaxing the muscles and blocking the nerve signals.
Devices
For men who have incontinence due to weak urinary sphincter muscles, implanting an artificial urinary sphincter can cure the incontinence. The artificial sphincter keeps the urethra closed until you are ready to urinate, at which point you can squeeze the pump to release the urine.
Another device effective in treating incontinence is the Interstim Pacemaker. This requires an electrode to be implanted near the main nerve to the bladder, so that the nerve can receive electrical impulses to help relax the bladder.
Surgery
Some men can find relief from their incontinence through a male sling procedure. During this procedure a strip of material is wrapped around the urethra and then attached to the pelvic bone. This keeps constant pressure on the urethra to prevent leakage.
Extreme cases of urinary incontinence caused by complete loss of bladder function due to nerve damage may require a urinary diversion. This procedure uses a piece of the small intestine to create a reservoir to hold the urine. This reservoir drains through an opening in the lower abdomen and into a bag.
