Urinary incontinence treatment depends on the type of urinary incontinence a man is experiencing and the causes of urine leakage. Often, urinary incontinence is related to a medical condition that involves the prostate, including prostatitis, BPH, or prostate cancer treatment, as well as some of the treatments used to treat these prostate disorders. Therefore, it is not enough to know that a man has urine leakage; it is also necessary to identify the cause so the proper urinary incontinence treatment can be chosen and success is more likely.
Many men are embarrassed by episodes of urinary incontinence and so are hesitant to seek medical advice. However, it may help to know that urinary incontinence in men is not uncommon.
In fact, a 2011 study in the Journal of Urology reported that the prevalence of urinary incontinence in men was 13.9 percent. That figure was based on an analysis of nearly 18,000 men and women ages 20 and older who had participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination survey 2001 to 2008. There is a chance this percentage is low given that men generally are not comfortable revealing they suffer with urine leakage.
How do you treat urinary incontinence?
Once your doctor has identified the type and cause of your urinary incontinence, the most appropriate treatment(s) can be chosen. Available treatments for urinary incontinence and overactive bladder include medications, nerve stimulation, behavioral therapies, Kegel exercises, herbal and natural supplements, continence products and devices, and surgery. Many men find that a combination of treatment options works best for them.
Overall, the good news is that the estimated success rate of treatment with a combination of medications and behavioral therapies, for example, is about 80 percent for urinary incontinence and overactive bladder.
Reference
Markland AD et al. Prevalence and trends of urinary incontinence in adults in the United states, 2001 to 2008. Journal of Urology 2011 Aug; 186(2): 589-93
