Male Urinary Incontinence

Male urinary incontinence is often the consequence of a damaged sphincter; the circular muscle that controls the flow of urine out from the bladder. When damaged, usually the inevitable consequence of prostate cancer surgery, the muscle cannot squeeze and shut off the urethra. This causes urine to leak.

Managing Incontinence And Recovering Your Quality Of Life

Persistent incontinence can limit your activities, keep you homebound in really expensive, messy pads, dealing with the frustration and embarrassment, and the continual anxiety about leaking and odor. But the truth is, you don’t have to put up with bladder control problems anymore. Today you can find real solutions in the St. Louis, Missouri area that can fix incontinence forever, so you're able to go back to the things you love, with confidence and control.

In men, the urinary sphincter muscle is found below the prostate. The sphincter muscle surrounds the urethra. Whenever the sphincter muscle contracts, it holds urine in the bladder. When it relaxes, the bladder contracts and the urethra opens, allowing urine to flow outside the body. Whenever the sphincter muscle is damaged, it cannot close up the urethra.

Forms Of Incontinence

•   Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI)-The most typical type of incontinence following prostate cancer surgery, SUI occurs when you leak urine during a physical activity such as lifting, exercising, sneezing, and coughing.
•   Urge Incontinence-Occurs when you have an overwhelming need to urinate and aren't able to hold urine long enough to reach a toilet.
•   Overflow Incontinence-When your bladder never entirely empties, which causes urine to leak.
•   Total Incontinence-When the urinary sphincter muscle is entirely deficient, the result is continuous leakage of urine without control.

Stress Urinary Incontinence Responses To Prepare For Your Doctor Visit

1.   Do you ever experience unforeseen, abrupt urine loss either while sleeping or throughout the day?
2.   Do you have leakage while laughing, sneezing, jumping, or performing other movements that put pressure on the bladder?
3.   Do you have trouble holding urine as you hurry to the bathroom?
4.   Do you frequently experience a sudden and immediate urge to urinate?
5.   Have you detected a change in your regularity of urination?
6.   Do you go to the bathroom to urinate more than 8 times each day?
7.   Do you currently wear pads or liners to safeguard against unplanned leakages?
8.   When planning a trip, outing, or event, does the availability or location of the restroom facilities impact your decision?

Treatment Options

There are a selection of ways to manage incontinence, ranging from continuous management to long-term surgical solutions.
•   Absorbent Products-Pads, diapers, and absorbable garments are frequently used to handle incontinence.
•   Internal Collection Devices-Catheterization on a regular basis may be used for certain men to make sure that the bladder is emptied on a consistent schedule.
•   External Devices-Condom catheters can be used to collect urine, and clamps may be used to block the flow of urine.
•   Biofeedback/Electrical Stimulation-Can help patients get awareness and control of their urinary tract muscles.
•   Collagen Injections-Injections of bulk-producing agents, like collagen, into the urinary sphincter.
•   Surgical Options-These cover anything from implantable “male sling” treatments designed to support the muscles surrounding the urethra, to implanting a synthetic urinary sphincter which mimics the function of a normal, healthy sphincter.

Lots of men seek a permanent solution rather than deal with continuously having to wear pads, restrict their activities, and worry about leakage. You and your physician may find out that the ideal way to address your incontinence is using these effective surgical options. Metropolitan Urological Specialists in St. Louis, Florissant, and Washington, MO specialize in that very question. If you would like to find out more about how to treat your male urinary incontinency, give them a call today.