08 Jan What is male stress incontinence?
OVERVIEW
At Western Women’s and Men’s Health near Werribee, we believe it is so important to stay on top of your pelvic floor health, including treating urinary incontinence. This is the unintentional loss of urine when outside pressure causes an already weakened bladder to leak urine. The outside pressure may be from a cough, laugh or from heavy lifting. According to Depend Underwear it is known to affect 13% of Australian men and up to 30% of men over the age of 70 years. The severity can range from a slight urge to feeling as though your bladder is full even after you have been to the toilet.
SYMPTOMS
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Sneezing
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Coughing
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Heavy lifting
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Laughing
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Exercise
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Having sex
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Standing up
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Getting out of a car
Not all of these may affect a male and not every time they do one of these things. However, pressure-increasing activities can make men more vulnerable to urine loss, especially when their bladder is full.
CAUSES
Our physios in Hoppers Crossing find the most common factor leading to stress incontinence is removing the prostate gland during surgery to treat prostate cancer. Other factors that can also cause stress incontinence are obesity, smoking due to frequent coughing, high impact activities and illnesses that cause chronic coughing or sneezing.
RISK FACTORS
Risk factors may include your age due to the weakening of muscles when you get older, your weight as excess weight can leave a strain on the abdominal and pelvic organs, and surgery for prostate cancer.
WHEN TO SEEK A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL
Seek professional help when you are needing to urgently or frequently go to the toilet, accidental leakage of urine, difficulty emptying your bladder, or any pain in bladder, in or near your back near the pelvic floor area when exercising or during intercourse.
TREATMENT
The good news is that in many cases, stress incontinence can be managed. Treatment may include simple exercises given to you by our experienced pelvic physiotherapists, medicines, or both. A few men need surgery but most don’t.
A few things you can do by yourself at home include:
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Cutting back on caffeine,
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Do kegel exercises
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Don’t smoke
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Stay a healthy weight
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Use a diary to keep track of your symptoms and any leaking of urine. This can help you and your doctor find the best treatment suited to you
If you are needing some advice, our team here at Western Women and Men’s Health in Melbourne’s West can work out an plan that will work for your individual needs.
Our experienced physiotherapists at Western Women’s and Men’s Health in Hoppers Crossing are trained specifically in the areas of pelvic floor and incontinence rehabilitation to assist with any issues you may have. Call today on (03) 8001 2044 to make an appointment with a member of our friendly team.
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