Stress Incontinence

Stress Incontinence in Men 

Stress incontinence, or urinary leakage, is the inability to control your urge to urinate — particularly when there’s an external pressure (ie. stress) placed on the bladder or abdomen. Signs of stress incontinence include the involuntary loss of urine during physical activity, such as in the following situations:

• Laughing
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Exercising
• Performing heavy lifting
• During sexual intercourse

While stress incontinence is far more common in women, men who’ve had prostate surgery are at greater risk for it. Other factors that can increase a man’s odds of having stress incontinence include: advanced age, being overweight, history of radiation therapy, smoking or other illnesses that can cause a chronic cough, or engaging in high-impact activities for many years — such as running or jumping.

Treatments for Stress Incontinence in Men

WakeMed Urology offers numerous treatment options for stress incontinence.

• Physical therapy is often recommended as a first option for stress incontinence. Physical therapists have numerous tools to help improve bladder control — from electrical stimulation and biofeedback therapies to exercises designed to improve abdominal and core muscle function.
• Slings
  • Slings are made of synthetic mesh materials and are strategically placed to improve symptoms of stress incontinence. The two primary slings used by WakeMed Urology include the Coloplast Virtue male sling or the Transobturator Advance male sling. These devices are surgically placed by a urologist and the procedure generally takes an hour and is typically performed on an outpatient basis.