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Bladder Control Problems in Men

Bladder control problems, or urinary incontinence, can happen in men and women both no matter what their age. Bladder control problems in men can be caused by a variety of factors. Sometimes they are signs that a man is experiencing a more serious health problem. Most bladder control problems can be successfully treated by a doctor.

  1. The Facts

    • While issues with urinary incontinence are more common in women, they do occur in men. A man's risk of developing a bladder control problem increases with age. Incontinence shouldn't be regarded as a regular part of aging. The causes behind bladder control problems are often treatable. A doctor will usually classify the problem into one of four categories and then recommend treatment.

    Urge Incontinence

    • One category of bladder control problems in men is urge incontinence. Men who experience this feel a strong need to urinate followed immediately by a release of urine. There is no time to register the need to urinate and make to a restroom before the release. This bladder control problem often occurs in a man who has suffered a stroke or who has diabetes or Parkinson's disease.

    Stress Incontinence

    • If a man's bladder control problem takes the form of stress incontinence, then it can lead to social embarrassment and anxiety. He will experience trouble with bladder control during involuntary actions like sneezing or coughing. He can also have trouble when he laughs. Exercising, lifting heavy objects or making other movements that put sudden pressure on the bladder can also cause a loss of control.

    Functional Incontinence

    • Functional incontinence is a bladder control problem that occurs in men who have difficulty reaching the restroom when they need to urinate. It is not a sudden overwhelming need to urinate, as with urge incontinence. It happens in a man who has arthritis or mobility issues and cannot get to a restroom in time to relieve himself while experiencing a normal need to urinate.

    Overflow Incontinence

    • A man's bladder control problem is classified as overflow incontinence if his bladder is unable to contain the amount of urine filtered down to it by his kidneys. When this happens, his bladder overflows and he urinates involuntarily. This can happen in a man who drinks too much liquid at one time. Rarely, a man will have a bladder that is just too small to work with normally functioning kidneys.

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