Urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence is when urine leaks uncontrollably, it is a common problem that can often cause distress to the sufferer and impact heavily on their quality of life. There are a number of causes of urinary incontinence:

• Neurological problems or diseases especially those that affect the spinal cord, these include strokes, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's disease. These can all affect the function of the bladder.
  
  
• The most common cause of urinary incontinence in males over the age of 40 is an enlarged prostate gland. Another cause can be prostate cancer or the drugs that are used to treat this form of cancer such as radiation.
  
  
• Some medications that are taken to control blood pressure can cause urinary incontinence.
  
  
• Kidney stones can press on the bladder giving sufferers the urge to go and can lead to the loss of bladder control.
  
  
• Diabetes sufferers may find that nerve damages develop causing problems with urination and bladder control
  
  
• An over active bladder occurs when the bladder functions at the wrong time. The bladder contracts at the wrong time giving the sufferer an urgent need to urinate.

For the urinary system to function properly both the muscles and the nerves within this system must work in conjunction with one another in order for the urine to be contained and held within the bladder and released when required. Whilst urinating the bladder muscles contract pushing the urine out of the bladder and down the connecting tube or urethra. The muscles around the urethra relax allowing the urine to pass down the tube and out of the body.

Any cause of these not working properly such as disease or damage can lead to problems with urination. 
There are also various types of urinary incontinence including:

• Overflow Incontinence, the bladder continues to empty causing constant dribbles.
  
  
• Stress Incontinence, when urine is passed involuntarily for example when the sufferer laughs.
  
  
• Urge Incontinence, sufferers urinate without warning and the urge or need to urinate instant and uncontrollable
  
  
• Functional Incontinence, when a patient sufferers from dementia or is unable to physically get to the bathroom to urinate. Causes of functional incontinence include dementia, poor eyesight or poor mobility.

Whilst urinary incontinence predominately affects older men it can also affect younger men. Male urinary incontinence can happen at any age, however it can often be treated.