How to Overcome Urinary Incontinence in Men

Incontinence refers to the accidental or involuntary release of urine from the bladder. It is estimated that 25 million Americans suffer from urinary incontinence, and five million of these people are men.

Incontinence in men is typically the result of an enlarged prostate or prostate surgery; however, there are other factors that can cause a male to develop incontinence. No matter what the underlying cause of this condition is, it can be embarrassing and frustrating.

If you are a male and you are suffering from incontinence, there are strategies that can help you control the involuntary release of urine. These strategies can be highly effective and can help to minimize the embarrassment and inconvenience that incontinence causes.

Bladder Training

With bladder training, you can train yourself to control your bladder. This approach involves creating and following scheduled bathroom breaks. With this approach, you should attempt going to the bathroom even when you don’t feel like you have to go. Eventually, you will be able to extend the time between trips to the bathroom. Though you likely won’t see immediate results, if you keep with bladder training, you should see an improvement within a few months.

Pelvic Floor Exercises

Also known as Kegels, pelvic floor exercises are often associated with women, but they can also be helpful for men who suffer from incontinence. To do Kegel exercises, contract the muscles that you would use to stop yourself from passing gas, tensing them for three seconds and relaxing them for three seconds. Build up slowly until you are doing three sets of 10 repetitions a day. Eventually, these exercises will strengthen your bladder muscles and improve your ability to hold in your urine.

Reduce Caffeine and Alcohol Intake

Many experts believe that caffeine and alcohol irritate the bladder, worsening incontinence. So, try reducing the amount of caffeine and alcohol you consume to see if it reduces the symptoms associated with incontinence.

Double Void

Double voiding refers to trying to release urine twice in one visit to the restroom. When you finish passing urine, wait about a minute and try going again. Double voiding can reduce any dribble you may expel after you finish urinating.

By practicing these tactics, you may see a marked improvement in your incontinence symptoms over time. For men who have chronic incontinence, stress incontinence, an enlarged prostate, or certain other causes of incontinence, surgery, including laparoscopic and robotic surgical treatments, may be advised.

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