Urinary Incontinence in Men - Overview
Urinary incontinence (UI) is the accidental leakage of urine. Over a lifespan, there are gender differences in the frequency of UI. In childhood, girls usually develop bladder control at an earlier age than boys, and bedwetting (nocturnal enuresis) is less common in girls than in boys. However, adult women are far more likely to experience UI because of the anatomy of their urinary tract and the stresses caused by pregnancy and childbirth. Nevertheless, men may experience UI as a result of prostate problems, and both men and women can experience nerve damage that leads to UI. Its prevalence increases with age, but it is not an inevitable part of aging.
UI is a medical problem. To find a treatment that addresses the root of the problem, you need to talk to your health care provider. The four forms of UI are
UI is a medical problem. To find a treatment that addresses the root of the problem, you need to talk to your health care provider. The four forms of UI are
- temporary or reversible incontinence related to urinary tract infection, constipation, or delirium
- stress incontinence caused by weak pelvic and sphincter muscles
- urge incontinence caused by damaged or irritable nerves
- overflow incontinence that results when an individual is unable to empty the bladder
Male urinary tract, front and side views
| Overview | Causes | Diagnosis | Treatment |
Sources: National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC). Urinary Incontinence in Men. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). National Institutes of Health. NIH Publication No. 04–5280: March 2004
Image Credit: NIDDK Image Library. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). National Institutes of Health.
