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Medical Procedures for Male Incontinence

Medical incontinence in men is generally caused by a variety of medical conditions, ranging from aftermath of prostate surgery to weakness in the muscles that support the urinary bladder. There are a variety of medical procedures used today to treat such problem. Some of the available treatment options involves non-surgical techniques while others require surgery.

  1. What is Male Urinary Incontinence?

    • Male incontinence is a medical condition related to frequency of urination or, in some cases, urine leakages and poor bladder control. Such leakages from the bladder may result from pressures and other external activities which could be as minor as a simple cough or sneeze. This may lead to a squeezing of the stomach walls or bladder. Incontinence problems are generally more common with women, but men also experience such problems.

    Causes of Urinary Incontinence in Men

    • Urinary incontinence in men often result from complications of prostate surgery. During prostate surgery, the muscles which support the male urinary bladder become weakened as a result of the prostate surgery. This happens because the prostate gland wraps around the male urethra, the tube extends from the bladder through the male penis. There are other issues that may lead to male incontinence later on in life if uncorrected earlier. For instance, bedwetting is a common problem with the young. After a certain age, children tend to outgrow such problem, some do not, and at some point, they may require medical attention to correct the problem, otherwise it may become a persistant issue leading to incontinence later on in life.

    Non-Surgical Treatment for Male Incontinence Problems

    • The prostate surgery often affects the normal balance between the functions of the male bladder and the pelvic muscles which help in the closing of the urethra. After a prostate surgery, these muscles are weakened and are often not fully able to control the closing of the urethra. Post-behavioral therapies are usually used to strengthen these muscles through pelvic muscle exercises. Long and short muscle contraction movements are used in rotation to strengthen these muscles which helps to support the bladder.

    Surgical Treatment Options: Injection Therepy

    • The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved some biocompatible materials for use in treating male incontinence. This substance called Polytef paste is injected into the body of the incontinence patient, through a procedure referred to as Transurethral Polytef Injection This procedure could be done in the doctor's office as an outpatient operation, which does not require hospitalization. Once this drug is injected successfully the patient is allowed to go home, and over time some patients experience improvements in their incontinence problem. This substance is anticipated to strengthen the functioning of the male urethra. When the urethra works properly, urine is prevented from leaking out through the urethra.

    Male Sling Procedures

    • Another surgical method for treating male incontinence problems is through the use and surgical implantation of the male sling. This process is mostly recommended for men who have no previous history of pelvic radiation therapy, nor any implants such as urinary sphincter. The implantation of male sling could be done in less than one hour and the operation could be done as an outpatient procedure as well.

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