Incontinence In Men – Why It Is Becoming More Common
Incontinence In Men Why It Is Becoming More Common
Incontinence is often considered a woman's condition because women suffer from it more than men. However, incontinence in men is not all that uncommon particularly in men over 40 years of age. With the world population living longer, more men will most likely join the ranks of women with urinary problems.
Much of the incontinence in women is caused by the trauma that their bodies go through during pregnancy and child birth. Their lower pelvic muscles are pulled, pushed and even torn during the child bearing process resulting in pelvic floor muscles that can no longer support the bladder leaving it susceptible to outside pressures. Something as simple as a sneeze can cause involuntary leakage.
With men, the most likely culprit in the onset of incontinence is the prostate. The prostate is located below the bladder and actually encircles the urethra. This organ tends to grow or enlarge as a man enters his late 40's and by the time he's in his 60's he may be experiencing the symptoms of incontinence.
Symptoms include a weak flow, urgency, nocturia (night time voiding), dribbling and urinary tract infections. Because the prostate encircles the urethra, it can choke off the normal flow causing the weak stream and dribbling. At the same time, if the prostate grows large enough it can press against the bladder exerting pressure and causing a sense of urgency even though the bladder is not entirely full.
Incontinence in men, just as in women, is not a disease but rather a symptom of an underlying condition. That's why it is extremely important that men see their medical professional to get examined and determine precisely what the underlying conditions are. Often times it is an enlarged prostate but it can be a prostate that has become cancerous. Knowing what you're facing makes treatment far more effective and is obviously preferable to just living with the condition.