When the different types of incontinence that patients experience impact men, it can be frustrating. Not only can male incontinence be uncomfortable, but it can also impact activity efforts and daily living schedules.
Incontinence is a common medical diagnosis experienced by millions of men throughout the United States. An incontinence diagnosis is manageable through various efforts.
Below, we’ll discuss male incontinence, its causes, and potential treatments that a physician may prescribe to help men manage their incontinence to maintain healthy and active lifestyles.
What Is Male Incontinence?
If you’ve been recently diagnosed with incontinence, you’re not alone. There are an estimated 3.4 million men in the U.S. currently experiencing incontinence. When patients are diagnosed with incontinence, they have trouble controlling their urination. Incontinence is a condition that can be well-maintained and managed. However, when left untreated or improperly managed, it can lead to complications, such as:
- Skin infections, sores, and rashes due to moisture resting on the skin for prolonged periods
- Social and personal relationships are being affected.
- Urinary tract infections due to increased bacteria present
Many different things can lead to a diagnosis of incontinence in men. These can include:
- Certain Medications
- Constipation
- Diabetes
- Hemorrhoids
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Multiple sclerosis
- Muscle damage or weakness
- Nerve damage
- Obesity
- Parkinson’s disease
- Prostate conditions or cancer
- Smoking
- Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
What Are The Different Types of Incontinence that Impact Men?
A physician must diagnose incontinence officially, but several different types impact men. These different types can include:
- Fecal Incontinence: Also known as bowel incontinence, patients cannot control their bowel movements.
- Functional Incontinence: The patient experiences uncontrolled urination or defecation, which their current medical condition can cause. This condition may prevent the patient from having timely access to the bathroom or facilities.
- Mixed Incontinence: A patient experiences both urge incontinence and stress incontinence at the same time.
- Stress Incontinence: When patients sneeze, laugh, cough, exercise, perform heavy lifting, or other actions that put stress on their bladder.
- Urge Incontinence: A patient experiences urine leakage due to a sudden urge to urinate.
For a physician to make any of these listed diagnoses, they must perform an examination. An examination can include, but is not limited to:
- Diagnostic tests
- Medical histories
- Other physical exams
- Rectal exams
How Do Physicians Treat the Different Types of Male Incontinence?
The causes and different types of incontinence that impact men can vary. Some of the most common medical treatments considered and prescribed by physicians can include:
- Bladder Training: This is trying to train your bladder to hold urine longer by delaying the trip to the bathroom a little longer each time.
- Catheters: Male incontinence is treatable with insertable catheters.
- Change Fluid Intake: Changes in scheduled fluid intake can help reduce the urge to urinate.
- Incontinence Supplies: Prescribed incontinence supplies to help men manage their incontinence.
- Medications: Medications are prescribed, like alpha-blockers, anticholinergics, botulinum toxin type A (aka Botox), or Mirabegron, to help with male incontinence.
- Surgery: Surgeries help provide long-term solutions for specific incontinence issues.
Note: Discuss the abovementioned treatments with your physician before trying them.
What Incontinence Supplies Can Help Men Experiencing Incontinence?
Prescribed incontinence supplies to manage the different types of incontinence. Always discuss your options with your physician. Options can include:
- Adult Pull Ups for men are disposable and worn as absorbent underwear.
- Incontinence Barrier Cream is applied to the man’s skin to prevent moisture from resting on the skin. Water resting on the skin can lead to rash and skin breakdown.
- Incontinence spray wipes an area of skin clean between changes and bathing.
- Incontinence wipes can be used for cleansing in between changes to keep the patient’s skin clean.
- Male diapers or briefs are used for moderate to heavy incontinence and have tape tabs on the side for secure fitting.
- Pads or liners inside the man’s underwear
- Underpads help to prevent incontinence-related leaking.
Discussing these incontinence supply options with your physician can help determine the best options for you and your incontinence needs.
How Active Life Medical Products Can Help You Incontinence Supplies
You need a trusted incontinence product supplier when you require incontinence supplies. Active Life Medical Products makes ordering the entire incontinence supply process easy. Our Product Specialists can help you get your prescribed incontinence supplies covered through most insurances. Everything will be delivered directly and discreetly to your front door.
Call Active Life Medical Products at (800) 319-2336 to place your order.
