More Education on Incontinence in Men

 About 25 million Americans have urinary incontinence - that's about 8%. It's estimated that three-fourths are women, that leaves more than five million men with bladder problems. Assuming the same ratios work for New Zealand, that's 90,000 men. (Pop 4.4mil - 8% with incontinence - then 25% men) Are you in the New Zealand male statistic?  If you are aged over 60, it's highly likely you are or soon will be. Men can have incontinence due to an enlarged prostate or prostate surgery, but other causes may play a role too.


It's more than a few drips.
Most men have mild post-void (after toilet) drips, hence the oft-quoted, "No matter how much you shake and dance, the last two drops get on your pants." But frequent, excess leakage after urination is not normal. If it makes you uncomfortable, shows through your clothes or causes skin irritation, it's a form of incontinence -- and it could be a symptom of a more serious problem.

Incontinence is not uncommon.
Between 2 percent and 15 percent of men ages 15 to 64, and 5 percent to 15 percent of men over 60 who live at home (as opposed to a nursing home), have incontinence.

If patients have stress incontinence and have not had prostate surgery, another condition -- such as a neurological disorder, spinal injury or diabetes -- may be to blame.


Body changes as we age can be a problem.
As you age, the muscles that control bladder function start to lose strength, and weight gain can put extra pressure on the bladder. Cigarette smoking, heavy drinking and diabetes also increase a man's risk of bladder problems.


Prostate issues are a major factor.
Most men experience prostate enlargement with age. It can block the urethra and cause overflow incontinence, which is the leakage of a small amount of urine, or difficulty urinating. 


Purpose-designed male products work.
Manufactures of adult absorbent products have at last recognized that the male anatomy is different from female. Dryfella stocks a wide range of options from MoliCare, Abri-Man and Attends. All are top quality products.


Fluid intake matters.
Watching your fluid intake could help improve your incontinence symptoms, even without medication or surgery.

Sometimes men drink full six-packs of beer, and if your resistance is already low, then that's going to cause a problem. If you make more urine, you stress the system. Limiting alcohol in general, as well as caffeine and carbonated beverages, can help. Staying hydrated and drinking water when you're thirsty is always healthy, but there's no need to aim for a certain number of glasses a day.


Skin problems shouldn't be ignored.
Chronic leakage and post-void 'after-dribble' tends to cause skin irritation in men. Men have more problems with rashes and skin fungus, and often don't give enough attention to the perineal area around the scrotum. Moisturizers and barrier creams can keep skin from becoming too dry and inflamed. Men who use absorbent pads or products should change them every few hours to prevent infection.


Men have issues some women don't.
Men can face unique physical and emotional challenges with incontinence. Women are used to wearing pads several days of the month, whereas men are not socially attuned to wearing anything down there. Just the idea can be really embarrassing for them.


It may also be hard to avoid situations where leakage is common.

More men than women might have jobs that entail heavy lifting, for example, or friends might expect participation in sports like golf and tennis, which can put pressure on the bladder.