5 Common Treatment Options for Stress Incontinence
Stress urinary incontinence is the loss of urine that is unintentional during movement or activity due to the pressure placed on your bladder. A person experiencing stress urinary incontinence may unintentionally leak urine when coughing, sneezing, bending, exercising, doing the heavy lifting, or during sex. The word “stress” does not imply psychological stress but the stress placed on the bladder from movement or activity. Stress urinary incontinence can cause embarrassment, and if not treated, it may cause you to withdraw from activities and socializing, and negatively affect your sense of well-being.
Five common treatments for stress urinary incontinence include:
1. Behavioral Changes
The risk of unintentionally leaking urine gets higher if the bladder is full. Therefore, treatment for stress urinary incontinence may include minimizing fluid intake while outside the house, avoiding caffeine, reducing extreme physical exertion, and losing weight.
2. Medication
Different medications are used to treat stress urinary incontinence, some of which include anticholinergics, which calm an overactive bladder, mirabegron (Myrbetriq), which relaxes the bladder muscles, and alpha-blockers, which relax the muscles and fibers in the prostate.
3. Kegel Exercises
Kegel exercises can help strengthen pelvic floor muscles and the urinary sphincter, which can help improve stress urinary incontinence and prevent it from worsening. With stronger pelvic floor muscles, you can calm or resist the urge to urinate. Kegel exercises allow you to practice this.
4. Cunningham Incontinence Clamps
Also called a penile clamp, incontinence clamps are typically used in male patients who experience stress incontinence after prostate surgery. The clamp has a soft foam interior. The doctor places it halfway down the shaft, and it acts to compress the urethra, which helps prevent urine from escaping. However, the clamp must be removed after two hours to allow for urination. The clamp is very convenient and is most suitable for use when vacationing or during special occasions. It is not designed for 24/7 use.
5. External Urinary Catheters
An external urinary catheter (EUC) is a collection and containing a device for urine that is placed externally as a product worn on the body. The tubing relies on gravity to drain urine from the penis and into the storage device, which is usually a drainage bag.
Male Stress Urinary Incontinence Treatment in Concord and Mint Hill, North Carolina
Urine leakage can impact your emotional and social health. The use of absorbent pads alone is not ideal, since it doesn’t get to the bottom of the problem. A board-certified urologist can help improve symptoms of stress urinary incontinence using treatments that you are comfortable with.
Dr. Richard Natale is a male urologist that specializes in the treatment of men’s health issues, including stress incontinence. From conservative treatment to surgery, Dr. Natale will determine the most suitable and most effective treatment for you. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Natale, call (704) 786-5131 or use our secure and confidential online request form.
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