Helping men with incontinence keep control

1 in 3 men experience some form of urine leakage[1], but only 5% of them use purpose-made protection[2].

Destigmatizing male incontinence

‘Urinary leakage is common in men, especially later in life, but many men still remain undiagnosed and hence lack the benefits of modern management,’ says Professor Ian Milsom, Director of the Gothenburg Continence Research Centre. 

‘Often men are ashamed of their problem or they are unaware that help is available,’ says Professor Milsom. 

Destigmatizing incontinence can support your male customers’ wellbeing, and increase the likelihood of them buying the right product from you again and again.

A person sitting at a desk is engaged in a video call on a laptop. On the screen, a man in a suit is holding and explaining a white absorbent product. A package of TENA Men Active Fit incontinence underwear is placed on the desk beside the laptop.
. A person sitting at a desk is engaged in a video call on a laptop. On the screen, a man in a suit is holding and explaining a white absorbent product. A package of TENA Men Active Fit incontinence underwear is placed on the desk beside the laptop.

Destigmatizing male incontinence

‘Urinary leakage is common in men, especially later in life, but many men still remain undiagnosed and hence lack the benefits of modern management,’ says Professor Ian Milsom, Director of the Gothenburg Continence Research Centre. 

‘Often men are ashamed of their problem or they are unaware that help is available,’ says Professor Milsom. 

Destigmatizing incontinence can support your male customers’ wellbeing, and increase the likelihood of them buying the right product from you again and again.

Causes, types and treatment for incontinence in men

There are lots of types of elderly male incontinence, mostly affecting men over 40. Here are a few of the most common.

Please note: it’s best to visit to a doctor or health care professional to explore possible causes of urinary incontinence in elderly males. Incontinence treatment for men should be discussed with a trusted doctor.

Urge urinary incontinence

Urge or urgency incontinence is defined as the involuntary loss of urine associated with a strong desire or urgency to urinate. It can be hard to define a cause as there are many different factors that cause urgency, from UTIs, to medication, to an enlarged prostate.

Of course, drinking too much can lead to frequent toilet visits, but so can drinking too little, as urine gets too concentrated and irritates the bladder lining. The simplest natural remedies for incontinence in men include lifestyle changes, such as limiting alcohol intake, quitting smoking and drinking more water.

Stress urinary incontinence

The most common symptoms of stress incontinence occur when pressure is put on the bladder, e.g. during exercise or a sneeze, and the pelvic floor muscles can’t support the urinary tract as needed to prevent leakage. It’s the most common type of incontinence in women - in men, it’s usually a side effect of prostate surgery.

Post micturition dribble

Some men experience drips and dribbles after visiting the toilet. This is most commonly caused by urine remaining in the urethra after urinating.

Terminal dribble

This is when the urine flow slows to a trickle or dribble which is hard to shut off and finish.

Neurogenic bladder

Problems associated with brain function (such as MS or Parkinson’s) and damage to the spinal cord or nerves can reduce bladder control. The symptoms may differ depending on what part of the nerves are affected.  

Bladder emptying difficulties

Prostate enlargement in men is a common cause of bladder emptying difficulties. However, it may also be a result of a weak bladder muscle caused by certain types of medications or nerve damage. If the bladder is not able to completely empty, there is a risk of urine building up in the bladder. Symptoms may include: difficulty in starting to urinate, feeling that the bladder isn’t empty after urinating, an interrupted or weak urine stream, dribbling and frequent night time urination.

Note: If the condition seems to be severe, always refer your customer to a doctor.

Meet the customer - Peter's story

Male urinary leakage is more common than you might think, especially in men over 40. Peter is one of the 1 in 4 men who have experienced urinary leakage problems. Here's how it affected him.

Meet the customer - Peter's story

Male urinary leakage is more common than you might think, especially in men over 40. Peter is one of the 1 in 4 men who have experienced urinary leakage problems. Here's how it affected him.

Image of full TENA Active Fit ranges.

Recommending the right product

TENA Men offers discreet protection from light to heavy urine leakage, with a broad range of pads and underwear. Engineered especially for men's bodies, the range locks in leaks and effectively controls odor. So whatever your customer needs, TENA Men has the right product for them.

Find out more here

Audited by Josefine Grandin, District nurse, urotherapist, 2022-11-01

References:

  1. Male Urinary Incontinence Prevalence Study 2013 (US,UK,DE,IT,FR,MX,RU). 
  2. Irwin DE et al, Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC. Worldwide prevalence estimates of lower urinary tract symptoms, overactive bladder, urinary incontinence and bladder outlet obstruction. September 14; 2010

Read related articles