1 in 5 men unintentionally lose urine
One in five men suffers from urine leakage. And whether this is a few drops when coughing or laughing, or whole shoots when exerting; it is always annoying.
Urinary leakage is known as a typical female ailment. Although women are indeed more likely to suffer from it, many men also have to deal with this problem. Among the 1 million people who suffer from involuntary leakage of urine, about 200,000 are men, mostly over 65 years of age. But younger men can also experience urinary incontinence.
Urinary incontinence or urine leakage is a problem of the urinary system. Normally, the bladder stores the urine until the brain receives the signal to empty the bladder. Urinary incontinence occurs when part of the urinary system stops functioning or when there is a disturbance between the signals from the bladder to the brain.
Social isolation
Unintentional leakage of urine has a major impact on the way in which a person lives. It’s not just ‘just’ annoying; it often also has a major impact on social life. People are ashamed, fear that other people will smell the urine and are afraid that they will not be able to find a toilet quickly enough when the need arises.
Causes
Urinary loss has various causes. In men, for example, urinary symptoms can be caused by a benign enlargement of the prostate, weak bladder muscles or as a complication of surgery. At an early stage, involuntary leakage of urine can be controlled or even remedied. That is why it is always important to visit your doctor if you have urinary complaints. Your GP may refer you to a urologist.
Stress or exercise incontinence
Urinary incontinence comes in different forms. A common variant is stress or exertional incontinence. Contrary to what the name suggests, ‘mental stress’ nothing to do with this. With stress or exertional incontinence, you lose urine when there is pressure (stress) or tension on the bladder. With this form of urinary incontinence, you lose a few drops of urine when you laugh, cough, exercise or, for example, lift something heavy. It often occurs after surgery or, for example, after radiation prostate cancer.
urge incontinence
Another common type of urinary incontinence is urge incontinence. You suddenly get a huge urge to go to the toilet. Frequent urination or (too) sudden emptying of the bladder are symptoms of this. It is also common for men with urge incontinence to get up twice or more during the night to go to the toilet.
Urge incontinence has a number of possible causes. Not only cystitis, bladder stimuli and intestinal problems can cause this form of urinary incontinence, but it can also be a result of, for example, the Parkinson’s disease, the Alzheimer’s disease, Multiple sclerosis or a stroke.
There is also a combination of urge incontinence and stress or exertion incontinence.
Overflow incontinence
Another form of urinary incontinence is overflow incontinence. A person often loses up to continuous drops of urine. Men who suffer from overflow incontinence often feel that their bladder is not completely empty. And when urinating, they generally produce only a faint stream. Overflow incontinence can be a possible result of a damaged bladder or a blocked urethra. Also nerve damage caused by diabetes can cause overflow incontinence.
Functional Incontinence
Functional incontinence is loss of urine because someone cannot reach the toilet in time. Think of mobility problems due to a wheelchair or difficulty walking. Problems with the musculoskeletal system (such as arthritis) or certain (calming) medicines can also lead to functional incontinence.
Total incontinence
The last form of urinary incontinence is total incontinence, in which bladder control is completely lost. In general, the cause of total incontinence is spinal cord or urinary system injuries, birth defects, serious injuries or neurological disorders.
