Incontinence is a massive problem that many men experience, but few tend to talk about it. It can feel incredibly embarrassing and isolating, but in reality, it’s quite common. Urinary incontinence is not a medical problem by itself, it is usually a symptom of something else, and there is a wide range of conditions that can cause it. Regardless of your specific situation, there are a number of solutions to fix this. 

What are some treatment options that can help?

Most of the time, if you are experiencing incontinence, your doctor will start you out with simple, less invasive treatment options. If these do not work, then you will progress to more intensive measures. Here are some of the most common treatment options for incontinence:

  • Lifestyle changes

If you are only experiencing minor incontinence, it may be possible to rectify this with minor changes in your day to day life. An example of this might be controlling how much you drink, and when. It is better to drink smaller amounts of fluid throughout the day than drinking excessively in one go[1]. This will make the need to go less intense, which can hopefully reduce the pressure on your bladder, minimizing leakage.

Another great lifestyle treatment option is delaying going to the toilet for as long as possible. This is called bladder training, and it helps to strengthen your bladder muscles and urinary tract[2]. Do not delay going to the point where it is painful, but see if you can wait a little longer, so your muscles have the chance to work and develop. You should be aiming to go only once every 2.5 to 3.5 hours[3].

  • Muscle exercises

These types of exercises are also known as Kegels, and help to strengthen the muscles associated with your bladder and urinary tract[4]. You need to contract your urinary muscles for as long as possible, aiming for ten seconds at a time[5]. Then release the muscles for ten seconds, and repeat over.

  • Medication

There are a number of different medication options available on the market that can help to reduce incontinence. Many of these are designed to help incontinence caused by a specific purpose. For example, some can help to relax the bladder and urinary tract muscles, and others can be used to target and block the nerves that cause unwanted bladder contractions[6].

There are so many different medication options, each one designed for a slightly different purpose. If it’s not immediately obvious what is causing your incontinence, it may require a little trial and error before you find an option that is right for you.

  • Inflatable penile implant

This is a great option for men who suffer from ongoing erectile dysfunction as well as urinary incontinence. When the implant is semi or fully inflated (depending on the severity of the incontinence), the urethral sphincter is blocked, and urine cannot leak out[7]. Patients can then delflate the device when they are ready to urinate. This tends to only be used in men who also suffer from erectile dysfunction as well as incontinence. It is also only used as a last resort, when less invasive measures have already been tried and failed[8]

  • Artificial urethral sphincter

These are seen as the gold standard of incontinence options. It is essentially a band that closes off the urethra[9]. This is attached to a pump, and when you are ready to intentionally urinate, you can squeeze the pump to open the urethra. This lets urine flow normally, and then after a couple of mniutes the artificial sphincter closes back up[10]. This type of treatment is often used for men who have undergone radical prostatectomies, and have damaged bladders or urethras as a result[11]. This is often seen as a last resort as it is a permanent measure, and it requires surgery to insert and set up. 

Your treatment will generally be determined by the type of incontinence you have…

Incontinence is not a medical condition by itself, it is generally a symptom of something else[12]. This means that treatment for your incontinence will often depend on what issues you are actually experiencing that is causing the incontinence.

Your doctor or other medical specialist will help to determine your specific problem, and offer you solutions based on that. Doing your own research can never hurt, but always be open to suggestions that are better suited to your situation.

References

[1] https://www.healthline.com/health/overactive-bladder/male-incontinence#treatment

[2] https://www.healthline.com/health/overactive-bladder/male-incontinence#treatment

[3] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-incontinence/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352814

[4] https://www.healthline.com/health/overactive-bladder/male-incontinence#treatment

[5] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-incontinence/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352814

[6] https://www.webmd.com/urinary-incontinence-oab/ss/slideshow-male-incontinence

[7] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4853768/

[8] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4853768/

[9] https://www.webmd.com/urinary-incontinence-oab/ss/slideshow-male-incontinence

[10] https://www.healthline.com/health/overactive-bladder/male-incontinence#treatment

[11] https://www.urologicalcare.com/urinary-dysfunction/urinary-incontinence-treatment/

[12] https://www.healthline.com/health/overactive-bladder/male-incontinence#risk-factors