Though you may hear women say “I laughed so hard I peed,” you may also hear men complain about bladder leakage, though for different reasons. In men, incontinence – or the accidental leakage of urine – typically occurs due to an enlarged prostate.
What is the prostate?
The prostate is a gland in males that creates the liquid in semen (the fluid that carries the sperm from the testicles). The prostate sits right below the bladder and surrounds the urethra, the tube through which urine exits the body. Imagine the prostate as a walnut-sized donut with the tube that carries the urine, or urethra, passing through its center.
How does the prostate affect incontinence?
As males age, the prostate can grow, a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). This is a benign, or non-cancerous, condition and is very common. In fact, half of men will experience symptoms of BPH by age 60.
When the prostate grows, the center of the donut hole becomes smaller, kinking the urethra. When the tube gets kinked, the bladder can not empty all the way. This restriction can prevent the bladder from fully emptying, leading to a condition called overflow incontinence, in which urine then leaks unexpectedly.
Urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate:
- Interrupted Urine Flow: The stream of urine may start and stop.
- Weak Stream: Urine may dribble rather than flow forcefully. Instead of urine shooting ahead into the toilet, it may fall down towards the feet. You may also have to strain in order to start the flow.
- Frequent Urges: You may feel the need to urinate soon after going, as the bladder hasn't fully emptied, due to that kinked tube.
- Increased Frequency: This leads to more trips to the bathroom, day and night.
Treatment:
- Lifestyle Changes: Reduce alcohol, caffeine, and carbonated beverages
- Medications: Your provider might prescribe drugs to shrink the prostate or relax the bladder muscles.
- Surgery: There are several different types of surgery which will remove enough of the gland so that urine can pass by easily.
- Medical Devices: Options like catheters or nerve stimulators can help manage symptoms.
Besides an enlarged prostate, urinary incontinence in males can also stem from prostate surgery or neurological diseases like Parkinson’s Disease, strokes, or dementia. Urinary incontinence can also be due to just not being able to get to the bathroom in time because of mobility issues.
While urinary incontinence can be embarrassing, it’s important to seek medical advice rather than suffer in silence. In fact, it is crucial to get emergency care in the case of being unable to urinate at all due to a completely blocked urethra. Understanding the connection between prostate health and urinary incontinence is crucial for early detection and effective management.
Urinary incontinence is not just a normal part of aging – it’s a medical condition that can be managed and treated. Make an appointment at Northfield Hospital + Clinics to make a move towards a better, and dryer, quality of life.