You’ve likely heard or read that saw palmetto is an effective herb for managing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men who have benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and the results of dozens of studies have supported this finding. However, a new study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, reports that up to…
Surgery for urinary incontinence is rarely necessary to treat overactive bladder. However, if your symptoms are seriously disrupting your quality of life and you have not responded to other treatments for incontinence, your doctor may recommend one of the following surgical procedures, depending on the type of urinary incontinence you have. Sacral nerve stimulation Sacral…
Therapy for urinary incontinence is one of the most effective ways to treat urine leakage and overactive bladder. With behavioral therapy for urinary incontinence you can strengthen your pelvic muscles in several ways, both with and without the need for any special devices. Bladder training is also suggested as a way to gain control over…
There’s a Rolling Stones’ song with lyrics reminding us that we can’t always get what we want, and that sentiment may be relevant to men who have unrealistic expectations about their sexual and urinary function after prostate surgery (prostatectomy). A new study finds that nearly 50 percent of men who had a prostatectomy expected better…
Urinary incontinence drugs can be used as a treatment approach for the different types of urinary incontinence, including overactive bladder. Combining urinary incontinence drugs with behavioral therapies has also been shown to be more effective than use of urinary incontinence drugs or behavioral therapy alone. If you have been diagnosed with urge incontinence or overactive bladder,…
If you suffer with urinary incontinence/overactive bladder and are overweight, weight loss could significantly reduce the number of incontinence episodes you experience. A University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) study found that among a group of 338 middle-aged, overweight and obese women, those who lost an average of 17 pounds had a 47 percent reduction…
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…
Urinary incontinence after surgery for BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) is a common side effect. Bladder dysfunction may be the sole cause of urinary incontinence in about one-quarter of men who undergo surgery for BPH, according to the results of a recent study conducted at the University of Sao Paulo Medical School. The researchers also found…
Incontinence and BPH treatment is a relationship that develops in a significant number of men who undergo either a radical prostatectomy or transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for treatment of BPH. After both types of prostate surgery, urinary incontinence can improve over time, but some men experience persistent incontinence. The prevalence of urinary incontinence after…
Nerve stimulation for incontinence is a medical procedure that can help individuals who have not responded to medications for urinary incontinence or other nonsurgical options and who don’t want to undergo surgery for incontinence. The procedure involves placing a needle through the skin near your ankle until it reaches the tibial nerve (a nerve in…
Before men with prostate cancer undergo prostatectomy, one of the most burning questions they ask is, “What are the side effects?” Although urinary incontinence has long been identified as a significant side effect of radical prostatectomy, a new study suggests urinary incontinence risk after prostatectomy remains high for longer than many once believed, even as…
The Food and Drug Administration has approved Botox (onabotulinumtoxin A) for treatment of urinary incontinence that is the result of a neurologic condition, such as multiple sclerosis or a spinal cord injury, in adults who have not responded to or who cannot tolerate anticholinergic medications. Currently, the FDA approval does not extend to other causes…
Incontinence and prostate cancer treatment frequently go hand-in-hand, whether it’s radical prostatectomy, radiation therapy, or brachytherapy. For example, the external sphincter, which controls the flow of urine, often does not function properly in men after they have undergone radical prostatectomy, especially in the early weeks after surgery. This malfunction of the sphincter can result in stress…
Questions about incontinence should be written down and taken with you when you visit your physician to discuss your urinary tract symptoms. Who should you address your questions about incontinence to? Either your primary care physician or, preferably, a urologist. To help you get started, here are some questions about incontinence you can ask. What…
There’s reassuring news for those who are among the 33 million Americans with overactive bladder: a new double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 562 older adults helped answer the question: does Toviaz work for elderly patients who suffer with this often debilitating urinary problem? According to Pfizer Inc., which makes Toviaz (fesoterodine), the drug was better than…
Picture 2.3 billion people. That’s the number of adults who will experience at least one lower urinary tract symptom (LUTS) by 2018, according to a study from the University of North Carolina (UNC). In addition, urinary incontinence is also expected to increase, which means together there will be a staggering number of individuals who can…
Urinary incontinence that develops after prostatectomy surgery for prostate cancer, prostatitis or BPH is a significant problem. As many as 65 percent of men who have undergone prostatectomy for prostate cancer continue to suffer with urinary incontinence up to five years postsurgery. (Penson 2005) Finding effective ways to treat this distressing and often embarrassing condition…
Urinary incontinence in men is not a disease, but a symptom of a dysfunction of the urinary tract. People who experience urinary incontinence lose voluntary control over their bladder function, resulting in urine leakage. Although urinary incontinence in men is less common than it is in among women, some men do experience this urinary tract…
Stress incontinence occurs in men whose urinary sphincter becomes weakened, usually as a result of trauma or surgery. Men who have undergone radical prostatectomy sometimes experience stress incontinence, but can also benefit from therapy. Situations that place pressure on the bladder, such as laughter, sneezing or coughing, can result in urine release. Diagnosing stress incontinence…
Prevention of urinary incontinence is easier than you think. If you have urinary incontinence or an overactive bladder, your first thought may be to limit the amount of fluids you consume so you will not need to use the bathroom as much. Although this sounds like a good idea, there is a down side. If…
