Men are less apt than women to complain about health problems. They may be embarrassed to discuss health problems of a personal nature with their physician due to stereotypes that exist where a man must be strong and taciturn. Men who are reluctant to discuss incontinence with their doctor may suffer needlessly. Incontinence in men can often be treated very effectively.
Disease of the prostate is the most common reason that incontinence in men occurs. The prostate gland is a small, walnut-sized organ located at the base of the bladder. As men age, the prostate often enlarges in size, a condition known as benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). The enlarging prostate can place pressure on the urethra, leading to symptoms of incontinence in men. Men may experience a weak urinary stream, dribbling, and/or inability to completely empty their bladder as a result of BPH. They may also suffer from urinary tract infections related to urinary stasis, which can worsen existing urinary incontinence in men.
Prostate cancer, or more often the procedures used to treat prostate cancer, may also result in incontinence in men. Radiation, removal of the prostate and the disease itself may all cause incontinence in men. Incontinence used to be an inevitability for men suffering from prostate cancer, but treatments nowadays can often spare urinary function.
Medications are often used to treat incontinence in men. Medications are used to relax the bladder, reduce or prevent enlargement of the prostate and reduce symptoms of urgency. These medications are often helpful, particularly when combined with self-help remedies, such as monitoring fluid intake, avoiding stimulants such as caffeine and alcohol and bladder retraining.
Incontinence in men is often a result of problems with the prostate and can often be treated effectively. For this reason, men who suffer from incontinence should consult their physicians so that the problem can be treated in its early stages.
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