Causes of urinary incontinence in men

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Vo Thien Ngon - Department of General Surgery - Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital
Urinary incontinence in men is also known as urinary incontinence. Urinary incontinence in men often causes troubles in work, life and daily activities.

1. What is urinary incontinence in men?

Urinary incontinence in men is the uncontrollable leakage of urine. Urinary incontinence often occurs during exertion or when there is a feeling of urgency, a strong urge to urinate and often worsens at the end of the day. Urinary incontinence in men to some extent significantly reduces the patient's quality of life.

2. Causes of urinary incontinence in men

There are many causes of urinary incontinence in men, such as a side effect of prostate cancer surgery or benign prostatic hypertrophy. However, it can be a symptom of certain diseases such as diabetes, stroke, and multiple sclerosis (a diffuse inflammation of the brain caused by an autoimmune disease, in which the body produces antibodies against itself). in which the immune system attacks the central nervous system leading to bone marrow degeneration) or Parkinson's disease. Sometimes it's caused by unexplained causes, such as bladder problems.
Some other causes of urinary incontinence in men such as:
Urinary incontinence due to overactive bladder: The bladder spasms at the wrong time or the contraction is too strong, causing urine to leak out. This condition is often seen in an enlarged prostate or neurogenic bladder.

Urinary incontinence due to insufficiency of the sphincter : Very common after prostate cancer surgery or even after prostate cancer surgery . If the muscles around the urethra are damaged or weakened, urine can leak out even if there's no problem with the bladder (no bladder contractions at the wrong time or too strong a spasm). When urinating is not complete, there is still urine in the bladder. This quickly fills the bladder with urine. If the bladder is too full, urine can pass out on its own. If there is some reason blocking the passage of urine out of the bladder (prostate tumor, for example), urine becomes stagnant in the bladder, at some point will leak out on its own.

3. Effects of urinary incontinence in men

Depending on the tolerance of each person, urinary incontinence in men can be very annoying for this person, but for some people, it is tolerable. Losing interest in work, even some people always want to separate themselves from the community, no longer enjoy sexual activities. These changes are a precursor to stress and depression.
At work: Every patient who suffers from urinary incontinence will always have to worry about their unhappiness while at work, thus adversely affecting their work. In life: The patient always wants to be near the toilet, so he often refuses all suggestions to go on a picnic, watch a movie... This thought will make the life of the person with urinary incontinence more and more boring. In sex: Urinary incontinence in men makes the patient uncomfortable in sexual activities. With the worry that urine will come out during intercourse, the patient has to limit or even not want to have sex. Effects on sleep: The stress of urinary incontinence makes it difficult for some patients to sleep. In addition, due to having to go to the bathroom many times at night, their sleep is not guaranteed.

4. Prevention of urinary incontinence in men

Sphincter insufficiency: This type of urinary incontinence occurs after prostate surgery due to damage to the urethral sphincter. The best prevention is to avoid injuring the sphincter during surgery. However, with prostate cancer, due to the purpose of extensive resection, it is often difficult to avoid. For patients, if urinary incontinence occurs after surgery, it is necessary to persist in practicing urethral contractions according to the instructions for a long time, even years.
Urinary incontinence due to overactive bladder: The bladder contracts too much even when it is not full, leading to urinary incontinence. Patients always feel the urge to urinate before leaking, especially when washing hands or hearing the sound of running water. Prevention by exercising control of bladder contraction, regulation of urination according to specialized exercises.
Master. Doctor Vo Thien Ngon has over 7 years of experience working as a urologist and surgeon at Hospitals: Hue Central Hospital, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Tam Tri Da Nang General Hospital.
Doctor Ngon with the ability to specialize in the field of examination and treatment of diseases of the Urology and Andrology system, Urology surgery, endoscopic urological surgery, Laparo urinary tract surgery, endoscopy Urinary. Currently, Dr. Vo Thien Ngon is a Urology - Orthopedic Surgery Doctor, Department of General Surgery, Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.

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