Can Enlarged Prostate Cause Incontinence

International Prostate Symptom Score

You’ll be asked to complete a questionnaire to assess your symptoms. Each question has five possible answers that carry a score, and your overall score is used to assess the severity of your symptoms.

The checklist includes the following questions.

Over the past month:

• How often have you had the sensation of not completely emptying your bladder after urinating?
• How often have you had to urinate again less than two hours after finishing urinating?
• How often have you found that you stopped and started again when urinating?
• How often have you found it difficult to postpone urination?
• How often have you had a weak stream of urine?
• How often have you had to push or strain to begin urinating during the course of one night?
• How often have you had to get up during the night to urinate?

After your GP has assessed the severity your symptoms, they’ll aim to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms using certain tests.

How Common Is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is the most common prostate problem for men older than age 50. In 2010, as many as 14 million men in the United States had lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia.1 Although benign prostatic hyperplasia rarely causes symptoms before age 40, the occurrence and symptoms increase with age. Benign prostatic hyperplasia affects about 50 percent of men between the ages of 51 and 60 and up to 90 percent of men older than 80.2

Causes Of Urge Incontinence

The bladder is a muscle and just like the other muscles in our bodies, it is sensitive to changes in our health situation. However, there is no one cause of urge incontinence. A complete medical evaluation can shed light on the possible reasons for the condition. Some of the most common, generally accepted causes of urge incontinence include:

BPH Urge incontinence is a significant problem for men suffering from BPH and its related complications. Since prostatic enlargement reduces the amount of urine that can flow freely from the bladder, the bladder muscle tends to malfunction.

Other causes of urge incontinence include:

• Cancer of the bladder
• Obstruction of urine
• Nerve problems

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Treatment For Urinary Problems

If your urinary problems are caused by infection or enlargement of the prostate gland, treatment may include:

• a long course of antibacterial medication because infection is difficult to get rid of, the antibacterial medication will need to be taken for many weeks
• medication to improve urine flow and other symptoms
• surgical procedures the type of surgery required depends on the size of the prostate and the condition of the urethra. Types of procedures include:
• transurethral resection of the prostate
• transurethral incision of the prostate
• laser resection of the prostate
• open surgery prostatectomy
• removal of prostate tissue using water jets or steam

UroLift® for men for whom medication has not been successful but their prostates are not so enlarged that they need more invasive surgery. This procedure involves the transurethral insertion of staples to separate the lobes of the prostate. It has minimal side effects and preserves ejaculatory and erectile function

a number of other procedures that have been developed to reduce urinary symptoms. Talk to your doctor about your options.

What Are The Types And Symptoms Of Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence can be short-term or long-lasting . Short-term incontinence is often caused by other health problems or treatments. This topic is about the different types of chronic urinary incontinence:

• Stress incontinence means that you leak urine when you sneeze, cough, laugh, lift something, change position, or do something that puts stress or strain on your bladder.
• Urge incontinence is an urge to urinate that’s so strong that you can’t make it to the toilet in time. It also happens when your bladder squeezes when it shouldn’t. This can happen even when you have only a small amount of urine in your bladder. Overactive bladder is a kind of urge incontinence. But not everyone with an overactive bladder leaks urine.
• Overflow incontinence means that you have the urge to urinate, but you can release only a small amount. Since your bladder doesn’t empty as it should, it then leaks urine later.
• Total incontinence means that you are always leaking urine. It happens when the sphincter muscle no longer works.
• Functional incontinence means that you can’t make it to the bathroom in time to urinate. This is usually because something got in your way or you were not able to walk there on your own.

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What Are The Different Types Of Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence can be short-term or long-lasting . Short-term incontinence is often caused by other health problems or treatments. This topic is about the different types of chronic urinary incontinence:

• Stress incontinence happens when you sneeze, cough, laugh, lift objects, or do something that puts stress or strain on your bladder and you leak urine.
• Urge incontinence is an urge to urinate that’s so strong that you can’t make it to the toilet in time. It also happens when your bladder squeezes when it shouldn’t. This can happen even when you have only a small amount of urine in your bladder. Overactive bladder is a kind of urge incontinence. But not everyone with an overactive bladder leaks urine.
• Overflow incontinence happens when your bladder doesn’t empty as it should and then leaks urine later. This happens when bladder muscles are weak or the urethra gets blocked. These blockages can be related to an enlarged prostate or a narrow urethra.
• Total incontinence happens when you are always leaking urine. It happens when the sphincter muscle no longer works.
• Functional incontinence is rare. It happens when you can’t make it to the bathroom in time to urinate. This is usually because something got in your way or you were not able to walk there on your own.

Signs And Symptoms Of Prostate Cancer

Most prostate cancers are found early, through screening. Early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms. More advanced prostate cancers can sometimes cause symptoms, such as:

• Problems urinating, including a slow or weak urinary stream or the need to urinate more often, especially at night
• Blood in the urine or semen
• Trouble getting an erection
• Pain in the hips, back , chest , or other areas from cancer that has spread to bones
• Weakness or numbness in the legs or feet, or even loss of bladder or bowel control from cancer pressing on the spinal cord

Most of these problems are more likely to be caused by something other than prostate cancer. For example, trouble urinating is much more often caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia , a non-cancerous growth of the prostate. Still, its important to tell your health care provider if you have any of these symptoms so that the cause can be found and treated, if needed. Some men might need more tests to check for prostate cancer.

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I Have An Enlarged Prostate How Does This Affect Incontinence

For men, an enlarged prostate is a common cause of incontinence. As men age, the risk of developing an enlarged prostate, also known as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia , and Prostate Cancer increases. Warning signs of BPH and Prostate Cancer include urinary symptoms. Pay attention to changes in the frequency of urination, especially at night, and hesitancy and dribbling during urination. Men over 40 with increased risk of developing these conditions should schedule annual prostate exams. Risk factors include family history and a diet that is low in fiber, but high in fat and red meat. Additionally, African Americans are typically at higher risk.

The good news: an enlarged prostate can be treated with a variety of medications and surgery. If you experience urinary incontinence or changes in urination, consult your doctor or healthcare provider as soon as possible. You’ll want to discuss your symptoms and treatment options, which may include:

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Urinary Incontinence In Men: Facts You Need To Know

Urinary incontinence in men? Thats right incontinence isnt just restricted to women men can suffer from accidental leakage of urine too! With cases of an enlarged prostate and prostate surgery on the increase, male incontinence has become commonplace.

Lets look at the numbers. As of this day, a whopping over 20 million Americans are struggling with some degree of incontinence. What will shock you, though, is that men account for about 20% of all these cases. That doesnt seem like a women-only problem anymore, does it? But, that isnt all.Beside prostate conditions, other causes can play a vital role in incontinence in men. Sadly, not many men are informed about these issues, with most male patients facing insurmountable challenges socially, emotionally, and physically when diagnosed.

Herein, I will walk you through some glowing facts about incontinence in men that everyone should know. They are poised to convince even the most grounded fellow to be aware of this unfortunate condition. Read on.

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What Is The General Overall Outcome

In any case, Urinary Incontinence due to prostate issues is not always permanent. Many men find their bladder leakage dissipates after treatment. Even if the treatments cause bladder problems or they continue, its common for symptoms to reduce and disappear over time. The amount of time it takes to recover from the symptoms can range from a couple months to a couple years. Those who experience Urinary Incontinence after treatment do several things to regain control of their bladder in that time.

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• Exercise is a great way to reduce pressure on the bladder, and boost metabolic health to strengthen the body. Specific forms of exercise like Yoga , are especially effective.

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• Kegels and other pelvic floor exercises improve symptoms significantly.

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• Changes in diet like avoiding certain trigger foods, or eating foods that battle incontinence, reduce urine leakage.

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• Wearing incontinence supplies maintain a healthy body, by absorbing any bacteria, and toxins in bacteria. The consistent exposure to moisture can also cause infection and rash. Men then wear incontinence supplies or place absorbent materials on beds, and chairs to prevent complications. Many men with urinary incontinence prefer absorbent boxers, liner guards, and adult briefs because they are discreet and fit the male form. While you are treating your urinary incontinence with the methods mentioned above, wearing incontinence supplies will enable you to be active without worry of leakage.

Treatment Options After A Prostatectomy

In most cases, you can eliminate or improve incontinence after surgery to remove prostate cancer or to address severe BPH. Just remember to give your body time to heal and dont stress about it. Post-surgery bladder leaks are completely normal for many months.

In the meantime, here are some things you can do:

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Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression

Metastatic spinal cord compression happens when cancer cells grow in or near to the spine and press on the spinal cord. MSCC isnt common, but you need to be aware of the risk if your prostate cancer has spread to your bones or has a high risk of spreading to your bones. The risk of MSCC is highest if the cancer has already spread to the spine. Speak to your doctor or nurse for more information about your risk.

MSCC can cause any of the following symptoms.

• Pain or soreness in your lower, middle or upper back or neck. The pain may be severe or get worse over time. It might get worse when you cough, sneeze, lift or strain, or go to the toilet. It might get worse when you are lying down. It may wake you at night or stop you from sleeping.
• A narrow band of pain around your abdomen or chest that can move towards your lower back, buttocks or legs.
• Pain that moves down your arms or legs.
• Weakness in your arms or legs, or difficulty standing or walking. You might feel unsteady on your feet or feel as if your legs are giving way. Some people say they feel clumsy.
• Numbness or tingling in your legs, arms, fingers, toes, buttocks, stomach area or chest, that doesnt go away.
• Problems controlling your bladder or bowel. You might not be able to empty your bladder or bowel, or you might have no control over emptying them.

Dont wait

How Do I Do Kegel Exercises

Kegel exercises are a simple way to build strength in your pelvic floor muscles. These exercises are done by lifting, holding and then relaxing your pelvic floor muscles. You can find these muscles by stopping the flow of urine mid-stream while youre urinating. Only do this until you learn how to find the muscles stopping the flow of urine mid-stream isnt healthy over a long period of time.

When youre doing Kegel exercises, start small. Only hold it for a few second. Over time you can slowly work your way up to longer and longer stretches of holding the muscles tight.

Unlike other types of workouts, no one can tell when youre doing Kegel exercises. Aim to do several sets of Kegel exercises twice a day.

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Incontinence Products For Men

Like most men, youre probably not accustomed to managing bladder leaks and might feel both worried and even a little overwhelmed. Rest assured, incontinence products for men are widely available, and many other men experience incontinence after prostate surgery. Youll just need to determine which products include features that are right for your current needs whether temporary or chronic. Thankfully, our guide Men’s Incontinence Underwear: Everything You Need to Know to Get it Right is a great place to start.

Heres a list of some incontinence items to consider purchasing:

• Absorbent pads

Male Incontinence And Prostate Surgery

As you may already know, urine is stored in a sac called bladder. This sac has two sets of sphincters meant to control urine: external and internal. The problem is that weve no control over the workings of the inner bladder sphincters which is located in the prostate. In normal circumstance, a healthy, intact external sphincter pack enough power to prevent leakages.When prostate surgery is performed, internal sphincter is typically removed, but some damage could also be made to the external one. Such patients might not recover their entire urine control, hence urinary incontinence. With blood supply, nerve system or ligaments damaged, the external sphincter is poised to malfunction.

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Prostate Massage Is The Ultimate Control Of Incontinence

As discussed, male incontinence is caused by weak sphincter muscles, overactive sacral nerves, enlarged prostate, and other prostate-related conditions. For that reason, prostate massage is your best shot at eliminating all forms of incontinence. For so long, massage therapy has been utilized to treat many prostate conditions, including BPH and even in prevention of prostate cancer.

With regular massage therapy, you can reduce swellings on the prostate, unblocking the urethra. Some massage treatments target the sacral nerves, stopping urge incontinence. The bottom line is that massage therapy can help men with incontinence in more than one way.

What To Expect After Prostate Surgery

Your surgeon will aim to prevent or minimize chronic incontinence after prostate surgery, while also seeking to correct the initial problem and prevent any long-term erectile dysfunction. However, you can expect some short-term and potential long-term side effects of simple or radical prostatectomy.

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Whats Normal After Surgery

Remember that your surgeon has just disturbed some delicate and finicky organs and probably even removed some surrounding muscle. Its going to feel weird down there for a while! But dont panic! Here are some short-term symptoms doctors consider normal after this type of surgery:

• Blood in your urine
• Inflamed prostate symptoms
• Erectile dysfunction

You can expect to experience some or all of these symptoms for up to a few days or a few weeks. Sometimes, the symptoms of erectile dysfunction and incontinence after a prostatectomy continue for a few months to a year. Its rare for ED and chronic bladder leaks to continue beyond a year after surgery.

Problems After High Intensity Focused Ultrasound

Youre more likely to get urinary problems after HIFU if youve already had other treatments for prostate cancer. Possible urinary problems include:

• difficulty urinating
• urine infections.

Difficulty urinating

HIFU usually causes the prostate to swell for a week or two, so youll have a catheter to drain urine from your bladder until the swelling has gone. HIFU can also cause the urethra to become narrow, making it difficult to empty your bladder .

Leaking urine

HIFU can cause some men to leak urine when they cough, sneeze or exercise . This may be more likely if youve already had radiotherapy. There are ways to manage leaking urine.

Urine infections

Some men get a urine infection after HIFU. If this happens, youll be given a course of antibiotics to clear the infection.

Read more about urine infections in our fact sheet, Urinary problems after prostate cancer treatment.

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Treatments And Prevention Of Constipation

Probiotics, high fiber diets and stool softeners are all ways to avoid constipation, says Dr. Rice.

Probiotics are found in live culture yogurt and kefir, and in the form of pills. Foods high in fiber include lentils, peas, fruits and vegetables.

A sedentary lifestyle promotes constipation.

If you have a desk job, get up every 45 minutes or so and walk around for a few minutes.

If you dont have a workout regimen, then start one. Excessive inertia is a risk factor for constipation.

For more information on the UTI Tracker, you can go to utitracker.com.

Dr. Rice is with Inova Medical Group in Fairfax, VA, and her clinical interests include bladder, kidney and prostate cancer, minimally invasive surgery and robotic surgery.

Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. Shes also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.

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