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What Are the Causes of Male Incontinence?

Incontinence is when a person loses the ability to control the bladder partially or completely. Stress triggers such as sneezing, coughing or laughing may increase incontinence. Incontinence may also involve leakage with no warning, the sudden urge to urinate or the inability to fully empty the bladder. Age increases the chances of developing incontinence, but the problem may strike at time due to physical problems or side effects of medication.

  1. Enlarged Prostate

    • According to the National Institutes of Health, enlarged prostate affects more than half all men by age 60. The prostate is located under the bladder and when it becomes enlarged, it puts pressure on the bladder and urethra. Depending on the size of the prostate, symptoms may include leakage, the urge to urinate frequently or the inability to completely empty the bladder. Common treatments for enlarged prostate problems are medications and surgery.

    Medications

    • The side effect of some over-the-counter and prescription medications may be incontinence. Muscle relaxants, alpha and beta blockers, antidepressants and antihistamines may all cause incontinence in men. Diuretics, commonly used to treat high blood pressure and water retention, may also cause or exacerbate male incontinence due to an increased need to urinate.

    Overactive Bladder

    • The chances of developing an overactive bladder increases with age. Lifestyle factors that had no adverse affects when younger may also contribute to the problem later in life. Caffeine, alcohol, acidic foods, smoking and weight gain often exacerbate overactive bladder incontinence.

    Nervous System Conditions

    • Nervous system conditions may cause incontinence in males. Incontinence is symptomatic of or may be caused by diabetes, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's. Individuals who may have suffered trauma to the spinal cord may also have incontinence.

    Infections

    • Prostatitis, urinary tract infections, bladder infections and kidney infections may cause incontinence in males. In prostatitis, the prostate becomes inflamed and puts pressure on the urethra. Urinary tract, kidney and bladder infections are common in both men and women and may cause fever and a burning sensation when urinating. These conditions may be treated and remedied with antibiotics.

    Blockage or Obstruction

    • When the urinary tract becomes blocked or partially blocked, incontinence, the inability to completely empty the bladder and painful urination are common symptoms. Blockage may include kidney stones, bladder stones and benign tumors. In rare cases, malignant tumors due to prostate, kidney or bladder cancer may cause incontinence. The urinary tract may also become obstructed due to scar tissue from a previous surgery.

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