Living With Inconcontinence

Of the estimated 19 million North American adults who have urinary incontinence, 20 percent are men. The severity of male urinary incontinence ranges from partial to complete loss of bladder control. They may experience varying degrees of urine loss, and the incontinence may change over time. For example, men with light incontinence may leak a little when they laugh or cough, while men with heavy incontinence may be experiencing continuous leakage. No two men are alike, and no two men are affected by incontinence the same way.

Incontinence is not an inevitable part of aging, and it is not a disease. In fact, it's a symptom or side-effect of another medical condition. Male urinary incontinence may be caused by any number of health conditions.

Prostate Surgery

Prostate problems and the treatments required to correct them are the most frequent causes of urinary incontinence in men. The two most common problems are Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer, often treated with surgery. Because early diagnosis is key to successful treatment, doctors recommend yearly prostate exams for men over the age of 50. Men with a family history of prostate cancer and African-American men should begin these checkups at age 40.

Most men have temporary incontinence following surgery for prostate cancer. The degree to which incontinence occurs, and the severity of it, varies with each man. While incontinence can be distressing, there are many treatments and management options available. Using absorbent products will help you maintain a normal lifestyle while you are working to regain bladder control. DEPEND Guards for Men, for example, are specially designed for the male anatomy.

The good news is that it generally lessens within six months to one year. In many cases, continence is fully restored.

Other Causes of Male Incontinence
Male urinary incontinence can also be caused by other medical conditions, including neurologic disease or injury (Parkinson's disease, stroke or spinal cord injury); obstructed urination; some types of surgery; and certain birth defects or chronic medical conditions such as diabetes.

The good news is that, in many cases, incontinence can be cured and it can always be managed.

Help Your Doctor Assess Your Situation
There are steps you can take to control incontinence and minimize its effect on your lifestyle. Your first step should be into your doctor's office.

Find out what form of incontinence you have. You can help your doctor or nurse to make an accurate assessment and diagnosis by completing a urine voiding diary for seven days before your visit to his or her office.

You might also be asked for your personal and family medical history, a list of any prescription and over-the-counter medications you're taking, or a history of accidents and injuries. Your doctor may also recommend testing to make an accurate assessment of your condition.

After reviewing this information and completing other diagnostic tests, your doctor will recommend treatment. There are many treatments available to men who experience urine leakage: Kegel exercises, biofeedback, electrical stimulation, medications, surgery and collagen treatments.

Discuss these treatments with your physician to determine the best option for you.

Infomation taken from http://www.depend.com/learn/living.asp

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