One of the misconceptions about urinary incontinence is that it affects only women. But you’re a man, you have all the symptoms, and your doctor has just handed you a diagnosis of urinary incontinence. So, now what?
One, you should know you are not alone: urinary incontinence affects more than 2 million men in the United States. Urinary incontinence also is not a disease but a symptom of a problem with the urinary tract. Of the four main types of urinary incontinence, stress incontinence is the most common type men experience after treatment for prostate cancer. Stress incontinence is characterized by urine that is accidentally released when pressure is placed on the bladder.
Another common type of incontinence is urge incontinence, which includes overactive bladder, and is the type typically associated with not making it to the bathroom on time. A third type of urinary incontinence is overflow incontinence, which can be associated with BPH or narrowing of the urethra and occurs when the bladder does not empty properly. Total incontinence is when urine leakage is relatively constant.
Two, you should also know that regardless of the type of urinary incontinence you may have or its cause, there are steps you can take right now that can help restore urinary continence and promote urinary health. Those steps include lifestyle changes and treatment options you can try to regain urinary control. So in response to the question “now what?” we offer the following guidelines.
Be an Informed Patient
When you notice you have symptoms of urinary incontinence, contact your doctor so he or she can make a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan. It is also recommended you read and learn as much as you can about urinary incontinence and prostate health and follow any new development about the condition. Keep a file as new studies and information about urinary incontinence are published, and contact your doctor if you have questions.
Make Lifestyle Changes
Your lifestyle choices can have a significant impact on urinary incontinence. In fact, lifestyle changes are typically recommended by doctors as part of a treatment program to regain bladder control. Incorporating lifestyle modifications into your daily life can have an important impact on your success in restoring urinary continence. The following 17 lifestyle changes can all be a part of your treatment program.
- Increase your intake of fruits and vegetables: Most men don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables, which are excellent sources of antioxidants, polyphenols, vitamins, minerals, and fiber, all of which support and promote urinary tract, prostate, and overall health. Read more
- Choose healthy fats: Healthy fats (omega-3 fatty acids, monounsaturated) should be the mainstay of a low-fat diet, which promotes sexual and prostate health. Read more
- Pick plant protein over animal protein: Plant protein provides all the nutrients and health benefits you need for maximum prostate health and to support urinary tract function. Read more
- Drink green tea: The catechins present in green tea have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can prove helpful in promoting urinary tract health. However, limit consumption to early in the day to prevent the need to get up during the night to urinate. Read more
- Avoid foods and additives that are harmful to prostate health: Some foods, supplements, additives and nutrients are especially harmful to the prostate and therefore may impact urinary tract function. These include but are not limited to meat, calcium, chondroitin, and foods high in sugar. Read more
- Drink pure water: Drinking pure water and staying properly hydrated is essential for flushing out the kidneys and bladder and supporting urinary tract health. Read more
- Avoid late fluid intake: Although adequate intake of fluids, especially pure water, is important, avoid drinking fluids 2 to 3 hours before going to bed to prevent getting up during the night.
- Avoid alcohol: Alcohol increases urinary frequency and should be significantly limited or avoided completely.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight places excess pressure on the bladder, exacerbating urinary incontinence. Read more
- Select safe supplements: Some supplements may support the urinary tract, including cranberry and uva ursi, but others have the potential to harm the prostate and urinary tract health, such as calcium. Before you take any supplement, investigate the pros and cons of the product and make an informed choice. Read more
- Practice Kegel exercises. Daily practice of Kegel exercises can significantly improve bladder control. Read more
- Swimming?, Running? (These exercises strengthen pelvic muscles)
- Manage stress. Stress can worsen urinary incontinence as well as weaken your immune system and alter your hormonal balance. Read more
- Practice good hygiene: Keep your penis and surrounding area clean to reduce the risk of infection.
- Stop smoking: Research shows that smoking is a risk factor for stress urinary incontinence. Read more
- Don’t hold it: Use the bathroom regularly to avoid irritating your urinary tract or possibly causing a urinary tract infection. When you do use the bathroom, do not strain to empty your bladder, as this can cause irritation as well.
- Avoid constipation: Constipation places excess pressure on the intestinal tract and can worsen urinary incontinence. The best way to avoid constipation is to include high-fiber foods in your diet daily and drink lots of water to facilitate movement through the intestinal tract. A natural fiber supplement such as psyllium or methylcellulose can be helpful, if needed.
- Limit caffeine intake: Coffee, colas, some energy drinks, tea, and chocolate are sources of caffeine and can promote urinary frequency. Significantly limit or avoid products that contain caffeine.
- Avoid foods that irritate the bladder: Foods and drinks such as carbonated beverages, citrus fruits and juices, chocolate, tomatoes, and spicy foods can make urinary incontinence worse.
- Control diabetes: If you have diabetes, keep blood sugar under good control.
Review Your Urinary Incontinence Treatment Options
The number of treatment options for urinary incontinence is quite extensive. Learn all you can about the available choices and discuss them with your healthcare provider.
- Medications, including alpha blockers, anticholinergics, Botox, collagen, duloxetine, 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, and tricyclic antidepressants. Read more on medications for incontinence
- Absorbant pads and adult diapers, which are among the most common ways to manage urinary incontinence. Read more on devices and products for incontinence
- Collection devices, such as a urine collection bag, Read more on devices and products for incontinence
- Catheters, which are meant to be a short-term solution. Read more on devices and products for incontinence
- Constriction bands, which are typically for urine leakage during sex. Read more on devices and products for incontinence
- Penile clamps and rings, which are typically for men with severe urinary incontinence. Read more on devices and products for incontinence
- Kegel exercises, which should be done several times daily for best results. Read more on kegel exercises for incontinence
- Herbal and natural remedies, which include cranberry, pollen, probiotics, saw palmetto, uva ursi, among others. Read more on natural remedies for incontinence
- Biofeedback, which is typically used along with electrical stimulation and/or Kegel exercises. Read more
- Pelvic floor electrical stimulation, which stimulate the pelvic floor muscles and is usually used along with biofeedback and/or Kegel exercises. Read more
- Bladder training, which may involve keeping a diary of your voiding episodes and following a schedule for urination. Read more
- Tibial nerve stimulation, a medical procedure that involves stimulating the nerves in the spine that control the bladder. Read more on tibial nerve stimulation for incontinence
- Sacral nerve stimulation, a surgical procedure that involves implanting a stimulating device to help control urinary incontinence
- Artificial urinary sphincter, which is usually for men who have severe urinary incontinence that has not responded to other treatment options. Read more on devices and products for incontinence
- Male suburethral sling, which can be helpful for mild to moderate urinary incontinence. Read more on devices and products for incontinence
- Cystoplasty, or bladder augmentation, which is major surgery and typically reserved as a last resort. Read more
- Lifestyle and diet changes, which have been noted above
Manage Your Medical Records
Make it a practice to keep copies of all your medical records, both for yourself and so you will have access to copies for any medical professionals who may need them.
- Get copies of any test results
- Keep records of any treatments, procedures, and devices you use to manage urinary incontinence
- Maintain an up-to-date list of any medications you take, over-the-counter and prescription, as well as any supplements
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