Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence, or the involuntary leakage of urine, is a fairly common complication following surgery to treat prostate cancer or prostate enlargement.

When urinary incontinence occurs, you may find yourself involuntarily passing some urine with exertion (“stress incontinence”), with orgasm during sexual intercourse (“coital incontinence”) or feel the need to frequently urinate (“urge incontinence”).

The long-accepted explanation for incontinence after prostate surgery was injury to the external urinary sphincter, which is the muscle that provides control of the urinary stream. However, a more contemporary understanding is that urinary incontinence may also be caused by too much movement of the urethra due to inadequate structural support.

Treatment for Urinary Incontinence

Incontinence can be managed with absorbent pads, penile clamps, and external catheters. Medication and behavioral methods such as Kegel exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor muscles may also help. The most common treatments for urinary incontinence, however, are:

Artificial Urinary Sphincter

An artificial urinary sphincter is considered the gold standard of treatments for male urinary incontinence. It involves the surgical placement of a mechanical device around the urethra that is operated by a pump placed in the scrotum.

Urethral Slings

For men with mild to moderate urinary incontinence, a urethral sling procedure may provide relief. In this minimally invasive procedure, a synthetic material is placed across the urethra, gently repositioning and providing extra support to it.

Don’t let urine leakage or dribbling derail your life. Schedule an appointment today to discuss your urinary incontinence treatment options with urologist Richard Natale, MD, of Concord and Mint Hill, North Carolina. Call (704) 786-5131 or request your appointment now. Dr. Natale specializes in the medical and surgical treatment of male urinary incontinence, as can happen following prostate surgery.