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Talking about male stress urinary incontinence

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) isn’t always preventable, nor is it easy to talk about. So how do you know if regaining bladder control is an option? Recovery can start with a supportive conversation.

For men with SUI

Talking about your SUI can be difficult. Discussing your feelings about your current situation can open the doors to exploring available treatment options.

Talking to a partner or caregiver

  • Can I share with you what I am dealing with and how I am feeling? 
  • I haven’t been feeling like myself because I am leaking. I worry that I may smell or be wet and not know it. 
  • My leaking is bothering me, and I want to go to the doctor to discuss my options. Will you come with me? 

Questions for a specialist who treats SUI

  • Why am I incontinent? 
  • Will my incontinence go away? 
  • Will my incontinence get worse? 
  • Could pelvic floor exercises help? How do I do them? 
  • Could the medicines I take be making my incontinence worse? 
  • What are my options to treat my stress urinary incontinence? 
  • I had prostate cancer surgery; is there a surgery to fix my incontinence too?

For loved ones of men with SUI

Talking to your partner or loved one about their incontinence can be a tough subject to discuss. You may play an important role in his journey. Here are some ways to start the conversation.

Questions to consider about your loved one

  • How often does he leak urine? 
  • Does he leak urine when he coughs, sneezes, or laughs? 
  • When arriving at new places, does he immediately look for where the bathroom is located? 
  • What is his daily fluid intake? 
  • Would you like to help him seek treatment?

Talking to your loved one who has SUI

  • You seem hesitant about leaving home. Is everything okay? 
  • Lately, you’ve been visiting the bathroom more than usual. Can we talk to a specialist about that? 
  • I learned there are treatment options for bladder leakage beyond pads. Can we go to the doctor and ask about treatment options? 
  • I know you don’t want anyone to know about your bladder control issues, but I think it’s time to learn about treatments that can help. 
  • I know you are still leaking, so let’s go see a urologist specializing in male incontinence. I think learning more about treatment options might help. 

Talking to a specialist about your loved one’s SUI

  • Will his stress incontinence get worse?

  • Could pelvic floor exercises help? How does he do them?

  • Could the medicine he takes be aggravating his incontinence?

  • What tests might he need to determine the cause of his condition? 

  • Is surgery an option?

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Real stories

Learn how real people found a solution for their incontinence.

Taking the next step

If you’re interested in taking control of incontinence, there is good news — cases of stress urinary incontinence can be cured or improved.1

Talk with a urologist who specializes in male incontinence. Ask questions about medications and procedures, talk about your symptoms, and ask about the best treatment option for you. We have several resources that can help you take the next step. 

References

  1. Chen YC, Lin PH, Jou YY, Lin VC. Surgical treatment for urinary incontinence after prostatectomy: A meta-analysis and systematic review. PLoS One. 2017 May 3;12(5):e0130867.