Bladder Weakness in Men: 5 Facts

1. The types of incontinence and bladder weakness men experience are similar to those that women experience:

Stress incontinence- this is when you leak urine when your bladder is put under sudden pressure, for example when you cough

Urge incontinence - this is when you feel a sudden and very intense need to pass urine and you're unable to delay peeing

Mixed incontinence- is when you may have symptoms of both stress and urge incontinence

Total incontinence - this is when you constantly need to pass large amounts of urine, even at night

2. Causes of male bladder weakness and incontinence vary

It could be related to medical conditions like an enlarged prostate, diabetes or Parkinson's disease. It can also be common after surgery - for example prostate surgery. Sometimes it can develop because of OAB (overactive bladder).

3. Kegel exercises can be beneficial for men experiencing bladder weakness

There is sometimes the belief that kegels or pelvic floor exercises only work for bladder weakness and incontinence if you're a woman. However these exercises are useful for men because they boost the strength of the pelvic floor muscles. Start by finding the right muscles -- the ones you'd use to stop yourself from passing wind! Then tense, hold, and release. Repeat this and build up so you are doing four sets of 10 of these each day. For more information on pelvic floor exercises check out this article

4. Men need to talk about it more!

It might feel incredibly isolating because it's such a difficult experience to share but the truth is that more men are beginning to talk about this subject. Dr Chris Chatterton is just one campaigner who is raising awareness of male incontinence and the stigma associated with it.

5. Men are less likely to see their GP if they have an issue so it's important to do this as a first step

It is important that you speak to your GP about your experiences of male incontinence and bladder weakness. Men are sometimes more reluctant to visit the doctor than women are. A US study that took place in 2021 revealed three-quarters of men had not gone to the doctor even if they had symptoms of a specific illness, 84% had not consulted a doctor about an injury, and over half (54%) had not gone to a dentist for a routine dental exam. So as a first step book an appointment with your doctor.

To get more advice on how what we drink impacts on bladder weakness read this article.