Men’s Overactive Bladder Treatment

Overactive Bladder Causes Treatments And Home Remedies

Written byDr. Victor MarchionePublished onApril 30, 2016

Overactive bladder, or OAB, affects about 15 percent of the North American population. People who have OAB find themselves using the bathroom eight or more times a day and can even have urge incontinence involuntary loss of urine. Although it may appear that the older we get, the odds of us developing OAB increase, it really is not age-related. OAB occurs when contractions of the detrusor muscle within the wall of the bladder occur involuntarily. This, in turn, leads to more frequent trips to the bathroom.

What Bladder Control Problems Can Men Have

The way men urinate changes slowly as they get older, so at first men may not notice there is a problem. The usual changes include:

• Difficulty or delay in starting to urinate. This is common with ageing, and with prostate problems. It can also be due to shyness when using a public toilet this affects about 3 in every 10 men, who have no problems passing urine in private.
• Stopping and starting in the middle of urinating.
• After finishing, a bit more urine trickles out. After the flow stops and the man has adjusted his clothes, a few more drops can come out and can cause a wet patch on the trousers. This is due to urine pooling in the urethra . It can be prevented by making sure there is nothing pressing on the genital area, like tight clothing or zips. The drips can be helped by carrying out 2 or 3 pelvic floor muscle contractions after you have finished. This will help ensure that your urethra is emptied.
• A feeling of not quite having emptied the bladder.
• Men may experience the need to urinate more often than usual or the sudden urge to urinate

Symptoms Of Urinary Incontinence In Men

Urinary incontinence in Dubai itself is not a disorder and is considered to be the symptom of another health issue called poor pelvic floor muscles. Other problems associated with Urinary Incontinence are:

• Pressure or spasms in the pelvic region that induce a heavy urge to urinate.
• Going to the washroom more than usual .

Urinating while asleep .

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Treating Men With Overactive Bladder Nonresponsive To Antimuscarinics

The beta-3 agonist mirabegron has the most evidence for treating overactive bladder in men after inefficacy or intolerability of antimuscarinic therapy at 8 to 12 weeks, according to the authors of a new systematic review published in European Urology. But more research on treatment options for men is clearly needed.

Cosimo De Nunzio, MD, PhD, of Sapienza, University of Rome in Rome, Italy, and colleagues conducted a review of 24 studies focusing on male patients with OAB. In an analysis of 5 randomized clinical trials including 1187 men, mirabegron 50mg was associated with a significant 0.37 greater reduction in urinary frequency compared with placebo. In 3 RCTs of 1317 men with OAB and benign prostatic hyperplasia taking the alpha 1-blocker tamsulosin, the addition of mirabegron 50 mg significantly reduced the mean number of daily micturitions per day by 0.27, urgency episodes by 0.50, and total OAB symptom score by 0.66 and significantly increased mean volume voided by 10.76 mL. Mirabegron was generally well-tolerated.

Limited data existed on other pharmacological treatment options. According to Dr De Nunzios team, use of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors has yielded encouraging results but use of these medications for OAB is still investigational.

In trials of posterior tibial nerve stimulation and sacral nerve stimulation, men made up only 10% of the total study population, precluding assessment of the therapies relative risks and benefits.

References

Medicine For Stress Incontinence

If stress incontinence does not significantly improve with lifestyle changes or exercises, surgery will usually be recommended as the next step.

However, if you’re unsuitable for surgery or want to avoid an operation, you may benefit from an antidepressant medicine called duloxetine. This can help increase the muscle tone of the urethra, to help keep it closed.

You’ll need to take duloxetine tablets twice a day and will be assessed after 2 to 4 weeks to see if the medicine is beneficial or causing any side effects.

Possible side effects of duloxetine can include:

• nausea
• constipation

Do not suddenly stop taking duloxetine, as this can also cause unpleasant side effects. A GP will reduce your dose gradually.

Duloxetine is not suitable for everyone, however, so a GP will discuss any other medical conditions you have to determine if you can take it.

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Are Herbs And Supplements Safe

This is the classic “yes and no” answer.

Most herbs and supplements are natural. However, they can be just as potent as prescription medication. As such, they can be fraught with side effects and can interact with other medications, such as prescription medications that are prescribed for OAB.

Also, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration doesn’t approve herbs as effective treatment methods. As such, they do not regulate them.

What Are The Causes Of Male Overactive Bladder

Overactive bladder is caused by abnormal messages in the nerves that supply the bladder that causes the bladder muscle to contract out of a mans control.

In men the commonest cause of OAB is blockage i.e. due to prostate enlargement that makes it harder for the urine to be passed and as a result the bladder has to work harder and becomes overactive.

Some cases of male overactive bladder are idiopathic i.e. the man does not have a defined or identifiable neurological abnormality but the bladder nerve pathways are nevertheless misbehaving.

Other cases of OAB are due to neurogenic detrusor overactivity i.e. the person has a definite neurological problem identified e.g. a spinal cord injury, past stroke or neurological condition such as Multiple Sclerosis or Parkinsons disease.

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Drink More Not Less For Overactive Bladder

Overactive bladder is the experience of frequent, strong urges to urinate that you cannot control. You may feel the urge to urinate even when the bladder is not full.

There may be more than one cause of overactive bladder, and although the likelihood of experiencing it increases as you age, it is not a normal part of aging. Overactive bladder is common among men and women, with approximately 33 million Americans diagnosed.

Treatment for overactive bladder can depend on the underlying cause of the condition, but a first line of treatment often includes behavioral changes. As far as drinking fluids, it is recommended that people with overactive bladder drink more, not less, to improve their symptoms.

Normal Bladder Function

In normal urination, nerves in the bladder signal to the brain when the bladder is full and needs to be emptied. The pelvic floor muscles that are usually tightened relax, and the muscles of the bladder constrict. This forces urine out of the body through the urethra.

Causes of Overactive Bladder

With an overactive bladder, the bladder constricts when it is not full, creating the strong, immediate urge to urinate. Sometimes this urge causes incontinence, or involuntary urination.

Potential causes of overactive bladder include:

· Enlarged prostate

· Excess consumption of alcohol or caffeine

· Tumors or stones in the bladder

· Diabetes

Drink More, Not Less

Medical Treatments

Overactive Bladder Treatment And Home Remedies

Whether or not you have an overactive bladder, you need to keep your bladder health in mind and take good care of it. Here are some tips to keep your bladder healthy:

• Never hold in your urine for too long as it can damage your nerves that send a response to your brain instructing you when to go.
• Stay hydrated so your body can expel toxins and bacteria to avoid any future UTIs.
• Perform Kegel exercises. This involves squeezing and relaxing the pelvic floor muscles to maintain bladder control.
• Quit smoking as it irritates the bladder.

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What Is Urinary Incontinence In Men

Urinary incontinence is the accidental release of urine. It’s not a disease. It’s a symptom of a problem with a man’s urinary tract.

Urine is made by the kidneys and stored in a sac made of muscle, called the urinary bladder. A tube called the urethra leads from the bladder through the prostate and penis to the outside of the body. Around this tube is a ring of muscles called the urinary sphincter. As the bladder fills with urine, nerve signals tell the sphincter to stay squeezed shut while the bladder stays relaxed. The nerves and muscles work together to prevent urine from leaking out of the body.

When you have to urinate, the nerve signals tell the muscles in the walls of the bladder to squeeze. This forces urine out of the bladder and into the urethra. At the same time the bladder squeezes, the urethra relaxes. This allows urine to pass through the urethra and out of the body.

Incontinence can happen for many reasons:

• If your bladder squeezes at the wrong time, or if it squeezes too hard, urine may leak out.
• If the muscles around the urethra are damaged or weak, urine can leak out even if you don’t have a problem with your bladder squeezing at the wrong time.
• You can also have incontinence if your bladder doesn’t empty when it should. This leaves too much urine in the bladder. If the bladder gets too full, urine will leak out when you don’t want it to.
• If something is blocking your urethra, urine can build up in the bladder and cause leaking.

Pelvic Floor Muscle Training

Your pelvic floor muscles surround the bladder and urethra and control the flow of urine as you pee.

Weak or damaged pelvic floor muscles can cause urinary incontinence, so exercising these muscles is often recommended.

A GP may refer you to a specialist to start a programme of pelvic floor muscle training.

The specialist will assess whether you’re able to squeeze your pelvic floor muscles and by how much.

If you can contract your pelvic floor muscles, you’ll be given an exercise programme based on your assessment.

Your programme should include a minimum of 8 muscle contractions at least 3 times a day and last for at least 3 months. If the exercises are helping after this time, you can keep on doing them.

Research has shown that pelvic floor muscle training can benefit everyone with urinary incontinence.

Find out more about pelvic floor exercises.

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Types Of Urinary Incontinence In Men

Many individuals who suffer from urinary incontinence in Dubai go through small or minor urinary leakage. Others will most generally lose small to moderate quantities of urine.

In males, forms of urinary incontinence include:

• Stress incontinence. This is a condition when your urine spills during coughing, sneezing, laughing, running, or raising something big. This mainly occurs due to the pressure placed on your bladder.
• Urge incontinence. You will have a severe, powerful desire to urinate, accompanied by urinary leakage, which is spontaneous. Sometimes, even during the night, you will get the urge to urinate frequently. A minor disease, such as infection, or a more serious condition, such as a neurological disorder or diabetes, can cause urge incontinence.
• Overflow incontinence. Because of a bladder that doesnt drain fully, you feel regular or continuous urinary dripping.
• Functional incontinence. A physical or emotional disorder where you will face urine leakage even before you go to the washroom. If you have serious arthritis, for example, you will not be able to unbutton your trousers fast enough.
• Mixed incontinence. There is more than one form of urinary incontinence that you will be facing, in this condition.

What Increases Your Risk

Many things have been associated with an increased risk of urinary incontinence in men. Incontinence may be the result of various health conditions or medical treatments, or it could be caused by family history or lifestyle. In some men, things from more than one of the lists below can combine to cause incontinence.

Physical conditions or lifestyle factors that may make urinary incontinence more likely include:

• Age-related changes, including decreased bladder capacity and physical frailty.
• Smoking tobacco.

• Anxiety and depression.

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Getting Help For Overactive Bladder

The first step in treatment is to ask for help. It may feel funny talking to your doctor about something as private as urinary issues, but rest assured that your doctor is a professional and is here to help. Be prepared before your appointment by keeping a bladder diary for a few days. This will help your doctor see the extent of your problem, and may help him or her to see any triggers that may be causing your urinary urgency issues.

Be prepared to have a thorough discussion with your doctor about your overactive bladder symptoms, as well as any other symptoms you may be experiencing. You should also let you doctor know if you suffer from any other conditions, such as diabetes, and provide a list of medications youre currently taking, which may be contributing to your symptoms.

Making a list of questions beforehand is also a great idea to ensure that you dont forget anything during your appointment. You may want to ask your doctor about different treatment options that he thinks may be a good fit for you, or about any options youve read about that youre interested in trying. Make sure you find out about the potential side effects for any treatment your doctor proposes, as well as what you can expect in terms of a success rate.

Overactive Bladder In Men: Causes Diagnosis And Treatment

• Surgery

What is an overactive bladder?

Overactive bladder is a relatively common condition. Typical symptoms include frequent urination, frequent nighttime urination, persistent urge to urinate, and urine leakage or incontinence.

An estimated 33 million Americans have OAB, reports the Urology Care Foundation, and as many as 30 percent of men experience symptoms. Its possible that even more men have the condition, but never seek help. If you suspect you have OAB, talk to your doctor. There are a variety of treatments options that may help.

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Overactive Bladder Treatment Options To Try

Originally published on: October 3rd, 2017. Last modified on May 6th, 2021

Living with a bladder condition such as Overactive Bladder can be both physically and emotionally demanding. NewLifeOutlook give you some great self care tips that can help to improve your bladder symptoms.

When your bladder doesnt want to cooperate, it can be more than just annoying. Living with an overactive bladder may make you feel your independence and social life has been taken away from you because of your urges to go frequently.

We know this is no way to live your life and you shouldnt suffer.

Thankfully, there are more than several methods to get your bladder issues under control, and if self-care doesnt bring the improvement you were hoping for, you can team up with your doctor to find a more aggressive OAB treatment plan with a combination of any of these approaches.

The first step to a stronger bladder is with physical strengthening. It is time to get into the habit of exercising your bladder every day with kegel exercises.

Kegel exercises are helpful for stress incontinence than they are for urge incontinence . Training exercises for overactive bladder are more passive, but just as targeted: you will set an urge schedule and stick with it, and when the urge to go comes along, you force your bladder to wait just a little bit.

A few dietary changes to your daily menu can have profound effects on your bladder control.

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How Is Male Overactive Bladder Assessed

The assessment of male overactive bladder is very similar to that of female OAB and includes:

• History
• Details of bladder habits e.g. how many times in a 24-hour period toileting occurs
• Details of incontinence such as triggers, frequency, severity, pad usage, effects on quality of life
• Other medical history e.g. of conditions that can affect bladder control such as diabetes, heart failure
• Medications both prescribed and over the counter
• Fluid intake especially that of bladder irritants such as coffee, tea, cola drinks, alcohol
• Past history urological surgery , pelvic radiotherapy, other pelvic surgery, neurological problems

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Symptoms Of Overactive Bladder

There are a number of symptoms that are linked with overactive bladder, and you might be faced with either one or all of them at once.

These are some of the common symptoms of overactive bladder

Urinary urgency

This is a situation where you are not able to reschedule your need to urinate to a later time. When the urge to urinate comes, you are often faced with a limited time to get to the bathroom before the urine comes out.

Frequency of urination

People who have overactive bladder often feel the need to urinate almost every time. This symptom is typically having an increased number of the times you urinate in comparison to what you usually experience.

Urge incontinence

This symptom usually involves leakage of urine. When you have the urge to urinate, there might be some leakage of urine even before you get to a bathroom.

Nocturia

This is a symptom that has to do with getting up to urinate at night to urinate at least two times.

All these symptoms of overactive bladder can impact any aspect of your life. Most people find it embarrassing to talk about these symptoms, which is why they dont usually seek out help from a medical professional to provide them with solutions to their symptoms.

Fortunately, these symptoms can be resolved in more than one promising way.