Incontinence in Men

Various physical conditions and medical treatments can lead to incontinence in men. Incontinence occurs when the bladder’s sphincter muscle is not working properly.

This can happen when:

• The muscle is too weak
• The bladder muscles contract too strongly
• The bladder is too full

Prostate health and concerns

A common cause of incontinence in men is prostate health and treatment. Following prostate surgery, many men recover from urinary incontinence within a year, especially younger men. Stress incontinence (urinating with laughter, sneezing or other strains on the bladder) can be common after prostate removal or radiation treatment for prostate cancer. With the improvement of new surgical techniques when treating the prostate, incontinence is becoming less common.

Prostate issues that can cause incontinence include:

• Prostatitis, which is an infection of the prostate gland
• Enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia)
• Blockage from prostate cancer

Other causes of incontinence can be explained by things such as:

• Constipation and bowel problems
• Nerve conditions that affect brain signals such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS) or diabetes
• Kidney or bladder stones
• Narrowing of the urethra
• Urinary tract infection (UTI)
• Certain medications such as decongestants or antihistamines

Talk to your doctor right away if you are experiencing incontinence. Treatment is essential for your health and can improve your quality of life.