Diseases & Conditions
Male Incontinence
Last updated: November 1, 2005
- Overview |
- Symptoms |
- Causes |
- Risk Factors |
- Diagnosis |
- Treatment
- Self-care |
- Related Conditions |
- Other Articles of Interest
Providers |- Request an Appointment
Overview
Male Incontinence is the termed used for uncontrolled loss of urine in men usually after surgery on the prostate gland. Incontinence as the result of overactive bladder is not included in this section.
Symptoms
Loss of urine with activity such as coughing, laughing, sneezing, lifting, bending, and other exercise. Some men might leak urine after standing for a length of time or walking.
Causes
Loss of urine with activity in men is usually the result of surgery or other treatment for prostate cancer or an enlarged prostate gland. After surgery or radiation to the prostate the nerves going to the urethral sphincter or the sphincter muscle itself can get weakened resulting in loss of urinary control. The sphincter muscle itself might also get damaged after a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) to treat an enlarged prostate.
Risk Factors
Any man who has undergone surgery or other forms of treatment to the prostate gland to treat cancer or BPH is at risk for activity related incontinence. Within this group, men who had have more than one modality of treatment might be at highest risk, for example a man who has had brachytherapy (seed implantation) and a TURP, or a man who has had radiation and a radical prostatectomy.
Diagnosis
Incontinence in men is diagnosed by any doctor, but is treated and evaluated by a urologist. A man with this condition might undergo a urodynamic test to assess the damage to the urethral sphincter and to predict how healthy the bladder is.
Treatment
Self-care
Please talk with your doctor if you are experiencing involuntary loss of urine.
Related Conditions
Prostate cancer, BPH
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Providers
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At UWMC
Call (206) 598-4294.
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At HMC
Call (206) 731-3241
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