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Treatment for UI in men
Treatment depends on the type of incontinence and severity of symptoms. For some people, simple lifestyle changes may be sufficient, for others, medication would be necessary. Finally some men may require surgery to treat the condition.
1. Lifestyle changes
– Limit fluid intake at certain times of the day (such as before going to bed or before a long trip). However, note should be taken to increase fiber content in your meals to prevent constipation.
– Cut down on caffeine, alcohol, keep a healthy weight.
– Try pelvic floor muscle exercises such as Kegel exercises. This is to strengthen the muscles that support your bladder.
– Timed voiding or bladder training therapy : plan regular trips to the bathroom at set times of the day, gradually increase the interval between trips as you gain control.
2. Medication
Depending on the cause of incontinence the following types of drugs maybe prescribed:
– Alpha-blockers and/or 5-alpha reductase inhibitors: for treatment of enlarged prostate (BPH). Click on the link to read more about BPH and mechanism of action of these drugs.
– Imipramine, antispasmodics : these act on nerves to block bladder spasms in overactive bladder.
3. Surgery
Surgical procedures include:
– Implantation of artificial sphincter: this is performed when weak sphincter is the source of problem.
– Man sling : implementation of an artificial support for the urethra. This is usually recommended for those who have had their prostate gland previously removed.
– Urinary diversion: bypass of the bladder and urethra altogether. In this procedure, a reservoir is made to collect urine directly from the ureters and urine is emptied through an opening in the abdominal wall into a bag. This is performed when other methods fail.
– other procedures (non-surgical and surgical) for treatment of enlarged prostate, see the main article on prostate hypertrophy for more details.
Fig. 1 : Transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) for treatment of enlarged prostate (BPH) incontinence in male. A catheter containing a microwave antenna is inserted through the urethra, a balloon is inflated at the end to keep the catheter in place. The antenna is heating the tissue of the prostate to destroy it. Cooled water is circulating in the wall of the catheter to keep the surface of the urethra safe from heating. See the main article about BPH for more details. Click on image to see a larger version on Alila Medical Media website where the image is also available for licensing.
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