Incontinence In Men

Incontinence is a medical symptom, and it deserves the same attention you would give to any other medical problem. Incontinence in men has become a more frequent occurrence in recent times, mainly as a side effect of radical surgery for cancer. Male incontinence is a common problem, which can cause considerable distress and embarrassment for the patient. Prostate problems and related treatments are the most frequent causes of urinary incontinence in men. Incontinence in men is diagnosed by any doctor, but is treated and evaluated by a urologist. It remains largely a neglected problem despite the fact that it is highly treatable and often curable. Incontinence from surgery follows such operations as hysterectomies, caesarean sections, prostatectomies, lower intestinal surgery, or rectal surgery. Incontinence can be caused by diabetes, a stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, some surgeries. Although incontinence is a common condition, fewer tha 40 percent of incontinent individuals seek medical advice. Perhaps the most important reason of all to seek diagnosis for your incontinence is to live life to the fullest. The two most common types of urinary incontinence are stress incontinence and urge incontinence. It is important to distinguish between the two types of incontinence because therapies vary, although the two types of incontinence do share some common treatments. For urge incontinence, medications are commonly prescribed. The best treatment depends on the cause of your incontinence and your personal preferences. In men, an enlarged prostate gland can obstruct the bladder, causing overflow incontinence. Men who undergo prostate surgery can suffer from temporary stress incontinence as a result of damage to the urethral outlet. Stress incontinence is an involuntary release of urine that occurs when pressure is put on the abdomen during activities such as sneezing, laughing, or exercising. Some people with severe stress incontinence may change their activity level to avoid movements such as jumping or running, which can cause greater leakage of urine. Stress incontinence, on the other hand, is rarely treated by medications. Mild to moderate stress incontinence may be effectively treated with exercise therapy, medications, or both. Surgery to add support forthe bladder neck is usually needed for severe stress incontinence that does notrespond to medication or exercise. Other options for the treatment of incontinence include mechanical devices called pessaries, intermittentself-catheterization (which is not used for stress incontinence), and absorbentpads or undergarments. The decision about which treatment to use for stress incontinence takes into account your personal feelings and the medical facts. Despite the high success rates in treating incontinence, only one out of every twelve people affected seeks help. One of the most important and pressing reasons for early diagnosis is that incontinence is always a symptom of something else happening in the body. For instance, incontinence can be precipitated by the natural changes in the body due to aging, such as loss of muscle tone and strength in women or the enlargement of the prostate gland in men. A second important motivation for early diagnosis of incontinence is that by determining and treating the underlying cause, your incontinence may be cured. Some of the more common procedures performed to treat urinary incontinence include, bladder neck suspension or sling procedures, periurethral bulking injections (collagen injections around the urethra), or implantation of an artificial urinary sphincter or sacral nerve stimulator.