Stress Urinary Incontinence Treatment in Greensboro, NC
What is Male Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI)?
Urinary incontinence refers to the loss of bladder control or leaking of urine. Male SUI occurs when there is involuntary leakage of urine during activities that put pressure on the bladder, such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, or lifting heavy objects. The most common cause of stress urinary incontinence in men is prostate cancer treatment.
Our board-certified urologist, Dr. Luke Machen is highly trained in treating stress urinary incontinence in men. Schedule an appointment at our urology clinic in Greensboro, NC today by calling 336-274-1114.
How Common is SUI in Men?
Although this condition is more common in women, 25 percent of males can also have stress urinary incontinence. If you have incontinence, it is usually a long-term condition so it is best to talk to your provider or urologist for help.
Symptoms of SUI
The main symptom of male SUI is the unintentional leakage of urine during activities that increase abdominal pressure, like coughing, sneezing, or lifting.
Causes of SUI
The most common cause of stress urinary incontinence is prostate cancer treatment. The reason is that these treatments can damage or weaken the urinary sphincter muscle. Around 5-10% of men will have bothersome leakage of urine 1 year after prostate cancer treatment.
If you are leaking urine when you are doing an activity and something puts pressure on your bladder, we can help.
Treatment for SUI
Luckily, incontinence is not just a normal sign of aging that you have to live with. There are many treatment options available to give you the relief you need.
We will start with a physical exam, urine test or other tests to determine the underlying cause.
We may also offer the following treatment options:
- Short term coping solutions – these include timed voiding during the day, using absorbent pads or adult diapers
- Pelvic Floor Exercises – Working with a dedicated pelvic floor physical therapist can lead to long lasting improvement to your incontinence. These specialists help you by strengthening the pelvic floor muscles and improving urinary control
- Surgical Interventions – In some cases, surgical procedures like the placement of a male sling or artificial urinary sphincter are great long term solutions and can help you regain control of your urination
Advance XP Male Sling – this is a mesh hammock that supports and repositions the urethra to improve incontinence, and works especially well in men with mild to moderate stress incontinence. The sling requires no action by the patient to function. This procedure is done under anesthesia, and typically the patient goes home the same day with a catheter in place for several days. Most patients are continent very soon after the catheter is removed
Artificial Urinary Sphincter (AUS) – this is an implant made to mimic a health urinary sphincter, allowing you to urinate when desired. The AUS is the gold standard for men with moderate and severe stress urinary incontinence, as it give you control of your urination and has extremely high satisfaction rates in the right patients
For more information on these treatments, check out https://www.fixincontinence.com/
Schedule a Stress Urinary Incontinence Consultation in Greensboro, NC
As a man, you don’t have to live with this uncomfortable condition. It can be embarrassing and negatively impact your daily life. You do not need to rearrange your activities because of incontinence. Call our urology clinic in Greensboro, NC today at 336-274-1114.