Urinary Incontinence

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Urinary incontinence (UI) is the accidental leakage of urine. UI is more common as people age. But it is not a normal part of aging. Men may experience UI as a result of prostate problems or nerve damage caused by certain diseases, conditions, or injuries. Nerve problems can occur at any age.

Men who have had diabetes for many years may develop nerve damage that affects bladder control and sexual function.
Stroke, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis all affect the brain and nervous system, so they can also cause incontinence.
Overactive bladder is a condition in which the bladder squeezes at the wrong time. The condition may be caused by nerve problems, or it may occur without any clear cause. A person with overactive bladder may have any two or all three of the following symptoms:
- urinary frequency—urination eight or more times a day or two or more times at night
- urinary urgency—the sudden, strong need to urinate immediately
- urge incontinence—urine leakage that follows a sudden, strong urge
Spinal cord injury can cause incontinence by interrupting the nerve signals needed for bladder control.
In neural birth defects such as spina bifida, the backbone and spinal canal do not close before birth. In severe cases, nerve damage can result in many problems, including lack of bladder control.

If you have any urination problems, talk to a doctor or nurse so that you can get a proper diagnosis. There are a variety of treatment options, and no single treatment works for everyone. Your treatment will depend on the type and severity of your problem. Many men regain urinary control by changing a few habits and doing exercises to strengthen the muscles that hold urine in the bladder. If these lifestyle treatments do not work, you may choose to try medicines or a special device. For some men, surgery is the best choice.

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Additional Resources

Publications

Age Page: Urinary Incontinence — This publication describes the types of urinary incontinence, diagnosis, treatment, and management. It also gives a list of additional resources.
http://www.niapublications.org/agepages/urinary.asp
Daily Bladder Diary — This is an hourly diary to help keep track of your fluid intake, bladder control, and accidents.
http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/diary/index.htm
Talking to Your Health Care Team About Bladder Control — This publication gives tips on how to talk with your health care provider about bladder control problems. It includes a patient questionnaire to fill out and take to the first appointment.
http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/pdf/talk_ez.pdf
Urinary Incontinence in Men — This fact sheet explains what causes urinary incontinence in men, how it is diagnosed, and how it is treated.
http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/uimen/index.htm
Men's Health: Urinary Incontinence (Copyright © UMMC) — This fact sheet explains the different kinds of urinary incontinence (UI) men experience, what the symptoms are, and management and treatment options.
http://www.umm.edu/men/urinary.htm
Urinary Incontinence: Embarrassing but Treatable (Copyright © AAFP) — This publication provides information on the causes and types of urinary incontinence. It also discusses bladder training, Kegel exercises, and other forms of treatment.
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/gen-health/189.html
You Can Do Something about Incontinence (Copyright © APTA) — This online publication offers information on what incontinence is, how the bladder works, how to treat incontinence, the different types of incontinence, and treatment.
http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Search&template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=20405...

Organizations

= Indicates Federal Resources

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