Urinary incontinence is the accidental release of urine. It occurs when the muscle (sphincter) that holds your bladder’s outlet closed is not strong enough to hold back the urine. This may happen if the sphincter is too weak, if the bladder muscles contract too strongly, or if the bladder is overfull.
There are a few different types of incontinence:
- Stress urinary incontinence is leakage that occurs when there is an increase in abdominal pressure caused by physical activities like coughing, laughing, sneezing, etc.
- Urge urinary incontinence also referred to as "overactive bladder," is usually accompanied by a sudden, strong urge to urinate and an inability to get to the toilet fast enough.
- Mixed urinary incontinence is a combination of urge and stress incontinence.
In men, urinary incontinence often is related to a problem or a treatment involving the prostate gland, such as enlargement of the prostate. As men age, the prostate gland grows larger, squeezing the urethra and pushing the neck of the bladder out of position. These changes can lead to incontinence.
Incontinence affects 13 million Americans and, even though incontinence occurs more often in older men than in young men, it is not considered a normal part of the aging process. Urinary incontinence may affect men of all ages.
How many people are affected: About 17% of the 3.4 million men over age 60 are experiencing some type of urinary incontinence.
Urinary incontinence can be an embarrassing problem, and men are sometimes reluctant to seek help. While many men suffer in silence unnecessarily, incontinence can be managed or treated. The incontinence should never be accepted. |
