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Urinary Incontinence in Men - Other Treatment
SYMPTOMS & TREATMENTS
- Topic Overview
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- What Happens
- What Increases Your Risk
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Treatment other than surgery or medicine may be used to treat urinary incontinence.
For stress incontinence
Biofeedback, a technique that helps you learn to control a specific body function, may be an option for some men who have stress incontinence or urge incontinence.
For urge incontinence
Behavioral therapies such as biofeedback and bladder training can be used to treat urge incontinence.
For overflow incontinence
Some men may require intermittent self-catheterization. During this procedure, a catheter is inserted into the bladder, usually 3 to 4 times a day.
Other treatment choices
- Catheterization may be used to treat
severe incontinence that cannot be managed with medicines or surgery. Catheters
do not cure incontinence but rather allow you or a caregiver to manage
incontinence.
- Intermittent self-catheterization is done with a thin, flexible, hollow tube (catheter) that is inserted through the urethra into the bladder, allowing the urine to drain out.
- Indwelling catheterization uses a catheter that remains in place continuously. For more information, see the topic Care for an Indwelling Urinary Catheter.
- Condom or Texas catheter uses a special condom that can be attached to a tube for short-term use. The condom, placed over the penis, keeps the tube in place. The tube allows the urine to drain out.
- Behavioral therapies, including biofeedback and pelvic muscle exercises, are used to treat urge and stress incontinence.
- Continence products such as absorbent pads or diapers, incontinence clamps, or pressure cuffs may be used to manage any form of incontinence. Some of these products absorb leaked urine and some put pressure on the urethra to help prevent urine from leaking.
What to think about
Men often use absorbent products, such as pads or diapers, when other methods of treating incontinence have failed or cannot be used. Some men may prefer to use absorbent products rather than taking medicines or having surgery. They may also use absorbent products after surgery for prostate cancer, while they are waiting to see if their incontinence goes away. This method does not treat the incontinence but instead manages the problem. In general, absorbent products should only be used along with a more specific treatment, because use of absorbent products can hide a more serious condition that may be curable.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: July 8, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Avery L. Seifert, MD - Urology | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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