Male Stress Incontinence

Male stress incontinence is the involuntary leakage of urine with physical activity, including:

  • Bending, lifting, standing
  • Coughing, laughing, sneezing
  • Running and other strenuous activity

Male stress incontinence can have devastating effects on a man's quality of life.

We associate this condition with increasing age. It most often occurs following surgery for pelvic cancer, including prostatectomy. It may also occur following other types of pelvic injury or lower urinary tract procedures.

We cannot treat stress urinary incontinence with a pill. We can manage stress urinary incontinence with:

  • Externalized penile clamps
  • Protective pads
  • Surgery

If your leakage is bothersome or impacting your quality of life, talk to your doctor about seeing a specialist to discuss options.

Surgical treatment of male stress incontinence

We offer the following treatments for male stress incontinence:

Artificial urinary sphincter

Artificial urinary sphincter is the gold standard for treating male stress urinary incontinence. It has the highest satisfaction rates.

We implant the device to replace your natural urinary sphincter. The device is completely concealed and operated with pump that allows you to empty your bladder on demand.

Placement requires surgery and an overnight stay in the hospital is typical. We tailor the placement of the device to the individual.

The advantage of this device is that it has the highest satisfaction rates. The disadvantage is surgical risk that vary depending on your health. We can discuss those risks with you.

Urethral bulking agents

Urethral bulking agents consist of a material to fill or plump up the urethral lining to help you store urine better.

The advantage of this technique includes being less invasive.

The disadvantage is that it has very low success rates and does not last long. With this treatment, you may need to repeat procedures to replace the material.

Urethral sling

The urethral sling consists of mesh that we place under the urethra. The sling allows for improved closure of the urethra with activity. It has the best efficacy for patients with mild stress incontinence.

The advantage of this procedure is that it is less invasive. The disadvantages include surgical risk and lower efficacy for severe cases.

What can I expect at my consultation visit to discuss male stress incontinence?

Do not be afraid to have an honest and frank discussion about your incontinence. It is normal to feel frustrated and uncomfortable discussing this problem, but we are here to help.

We have treated many patients with varying degrees of incontinence with great success.

We will ask several questions about the nature of your incontinence as well as your medical and surgical history followed by an exam. We will then discuss options and review the best treatment options for you.

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Page reviewed on: Jan 30, 2020

Page reviewed by: Rachel A. Moses, MD, MPH