How to treat urinary incontinence in older men

In the age group over 60 years, every 6-7 men out of 100 suffer from more or less severe urinary incontinence. Considering the sensitivity of this problem, it is very likely that there are many more such patients, because many older men prefer not to seek medical help. This pathology has a very negative impact on a man’s life, complicating social adaptation, reducing potency and reproductive function, and in some cases leading to mental disorders.

Meanwhile, treatment of urinary incontinence in older men currently consists of many areas and in most cases brings positive results, with stable recovery and a small number of relapses. It is important in each individual case to choose a set of methods that will be the most effective for a given elderly man. But before treating urinary incontinence, it is necessary to diagnose the pathology that caused the appearance of this unpleasant symptom. After all, he is by no means normal, as many believe, nodding to the number of years he has lived. Urinary incontinence in older men is always a sign of illness.

The first step towards treatment is awareness of the problem

general information

Incontinence is a condition characterized by uncontrolled urine output due to dysfunction of the urinary organs. This disorder is several times more common in women than in men. One of the predisposing factors is pregnancy. The risk of developing pathology increases as the body ages. Urinary incontinence in older men is a fairly common problem that requires comprehensive qualified help. It is not always an inevitable condition for older people.

Urinary incontinence is an underdiagnosed disorder, resulting in a marked reduction in the effectiveness of treatment. Today, more than 200 million people are familiar with this diagnosis, 25% of whom are men. According to statistics, about a third of patients wake up repeatedly in the middle of the night to go to the toilet. However, one in eight people say they urinate before they get to the toilet.

The problem with treating men with this pathology is that only a few are willing to talk about it. Two thirds of patients who experience this kind of disorder do not receive quality therapy and do not use auxiliary means to eliminate it.

Features of the disease and its varieties

Urinary incontinence is the spontaneous separation of urine from the urethra. It is impossible to stop him by force of will. It can manifest itself in men during sleep or during the day. The danger of such a disease lies in the fact that a person does not go to the doctor for a long time, ashamed of his problem. As a result, not only physical illness develops, but also psychological discomfort. This can end in nervous breakdowns or prolonged depression.

Experts identify several main types of urinary incontinence in men:

1. Urgentnoe. It is characterized by painful urges that appear unexpectedly. It is impossible to contain them. Such a spasm is provoked by even a small portion of urine located in the bladder. Limiting the amount of fluid you drink does not bring any therapeutic effect. An unbearable urge to urinate occurs every two hours. Incontinence of this type is often accompanied by diabetes mellitus, stroke, and Parkinson's disease.
2. Stressful. The most common type of problem. Voluntary urination in men occurs after a sudden increase in pressure inside the peritoneum. This happens during coughing, sneezing, laughing, and heavy lifting. There is no urge to empty the bladder. It is impossible to control the process. More often, a mild form of the disease is diagnosed, in which only a few drops of fluid are released from the urethra.
3. Enuresis is incontinence that occurs during sleep. Children often face this problem. The pathology can be congenital or acquired. The cause of enuresis in adulthood is pathology of the prostate gland. Discomfort occurs after urination.
4. Imperative. Accompanied by strong urges. The cause of this problem most often lies in an overactive bladder. It develops against the background of neurological diseases.
5. Mixed. Combines stress and urge urinary incontinence. It becomes a consequence of excessive stretching of the bladder tissue and insufficiency of the sphincter, which is responsible for closing the urethra.
6. Transitional. Develops under the influence of external negative factors. As soon as they cease to have their effect, uncontrolled urination in men stops.

Pathology can also be divided into primary and secondary. The first is associated with deviations in the anatomy of the sphincters, which make it possible to quickly stop the process of urination. Secondary incontinence is not associated with anatomical changes in tissues.

Causes of incontinence

Among the main causes of urinary incontinence in older men, there are two types of disorders: pathologies of the central nervous system and diseases affecting the prostate gland.

Any disorder or injury that causes nerve damage can lead to incontinence. The risk group includes the following categories of men:

• Patients with diabetes mellitus. In this case, there is a high probability of diabetic angiopathy. One of the primary symptoms of central nervous system damage is loss of control over all pelvic organs. And this inevitably entails urinary incontinence in older men. Treatment for diabetes mellitus is prescribed on an individual basis. Most often they resort to drug therapy.
• Persons who have suffered a stroke or suffer from multiple sclerosis.
• Men diagnosed with hyperactive bladder. This is a specific disorder in which the smooth muscles of the bladder contract involuntarily. The disease can occur both against the background of damage to the central nervous system, and for no apparent reason.
• Persons who have suffered spinal cord injuries. Any mechanical damage can also cause urinary incontinence in older men.

A common cause of this pathology is lesions of the prostate gland. These include the following:

• Benign hyperplasia. As the disease progresses, the prostate begins to compress the ureter, which leads to urination problems.
• Total prostatectomy. This is the most common and at the same time effective method of treating prostate cancer. Side effects of the operation include erectile dysfunction and incontinence.
• Effect of ionizing radiation.

Why does random bladder emptying occur?

The causes of urinary incontinence in old age are very diverse. These may be diseases of the bladder or urethra associated with the inflammatory process as a result of infection (acute and chronic cystitis, nonspecific or specific urethritis). Urinary incontinence can be observed in the presence of stones in the bladder cavity, which constantly irritate its epithelium and contribute to the contraction of the muscle wall.

Spontaneous urination is also a common symptom of many neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases that lead to weakening of the urethral sphincter and make it impossible for a person to control his physiological functions (Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, strokes, brain injuries, toxic effects of alcohol or drugs).

In addition, the regulation of urination can also be affected by pathologies from neighboring internal organs. Thus, a huge number of cases of urinary incontinence in older men are associated with diseases of the prostate gland (adenoma, prostatitis, cancer), less - with pathology of the rectum or prolapse of the pelvic organs. Some abdominal surgeries can also lead to urinary problems.

BPH is one of the most common causes of urinary incontinence

Depending on the primary cause, there are several types of incontinence:

• stressful: sudden, without urge, release of a small amount of urine when coughing, laughing, changing position, physical activity;
• imperative (urgent): strong urge followed by urination with a small filling of the bladder;
• mixed: a combination of imperative and stress types;
• postoperative: after manipulations on the urethra and prostate;
• paradoxical: when the bladder is full and the urethra is narrowed, urine is released dropwise and constantly;
• temporary (transient): under the influence of temporary factors (strong experiences, urinary tract infections, intoxication, side effects of certain medications).

When selecting therapy, all factors that led to urinary incontinence in men are taken into account, the general state of health and the presence of concomitant diseases are assessed. A set of diagnostic measures is required: X-ray examination of the kidneys, cystoscopy, uroflowmetry, profilometry; if necessary, the patient consults a neurologist.

Cystoscopy can determine the causes of urinary incontinence.

Manifestations of incontinence

The pathology is accompanied by a constant sensation of the presence of a foreign body in the urethra, a frequent urge to urinate, and a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder. As a result of constant moistening of the skin with urine, diaper rash and dermatitis appear, and infectious processes are added to them.

A complication of incontinence can be considered the so-called hypodynamic obesity, since a person loses the ability to maintain a full regime of physical activity. Due to the lack of restful sleep, fatigue and insomnia appear. The main problem still remains psychological discomfort caused by incontinence.

If the described symptoms appear, you should seek help from a doctor. Only after a comprehensive examination will a specialist be able to confirm the diagnosis of urinary incontinence. In older men, treatment is effective in most cases. If you neglect the problem and postpone visiting the doctor every time, complications cannot be avoided.

general description

According to statistics, about 6.5% of men over the age of 65 suffer from enuresis. This disease requires consultation with a urologist and endocrinologist, and in some cases also with a neurologist and psychotherapist.

Many people believe that urine stops holding water due to severe stress. Few people go to the doctor. The patient has:

• sleep disturbance due to frequent urges;
• refusal of intimacy;
• slight increase in body temperature;
• constipation;
• chills;
• burning during urination;
• lower back pain;
• weakness in the legs.

A man who has this problem tries to minimize the amount of liquid he drinks.

However, this only aggravates his condition, as the body suffers from dehydration.

There are several types of enuresis in men:

1. Stressful. It occurs against the background of physical activity, coughing, laughing or sneezing. In this case, a small amount of urine is released.
2. Urgentny. This type is also called imperative. Urine is released due to an unbearable urge. This type of deviation is characterized by copious discharge.

In rare cases, complete urinary incontinence occurs with the absence of a corresponding urge.

This condition develops due to the habit of constantly suppressing the urge to urinate for a long time. This is typical for people who have a shift work schedule, such as drivers, doctors or teachers.

Types of incontinence

Depending on the underlying causes, involuntary urination may be:

1. Stressful. In response to physical activity, coughing or laughter, small amounts of urine are released. Stress incontinence occurs due to weakening of the pelvic floor organs.
2. Urgent. Incontinence occurs due to increased bladder activity. Pathology, as a rule, is provoked by external irritants (noise of water, washing dishes, cold season).
3. Transitional. A sharp urge to urinate occurs so quickly that the person does not have time to run to the toilet. In older people, this type of pathology may be associated with infectious and inflammatory lesions of the bladder.
4. Overflow incontinence. This is a rare form of the disorder. In most cases, its appearance is caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Many men experience several types of incontinence at the same time.

Treatment of urinary incontinence in elderly men, main directions

How to check your bladder

All methods of treating this pathology can be divided into three large groups:

• Conservative methods, including the use of medications.
• Surgical intervention.
• Methods of traditional medicine as a complementary therapeutic direction.

In practice, various combinations of these methods are more often used, depending on the causes of incontinence. So, if an enlarged and dense prostate gland compresses the urethra from the outside and leads to the development of a paradoxical type of pathology, then surgical intervention becomes a priority. Medications and traditional methods will be used in the postoperative period.

In other cases, when urinary problems occur after prostate removal because the bladder loses physiological support, conservative methods are used. If the causes of involuntary bladder emptying are neurological diseases, then medication comes first in treatment.

Drug treatment is used for all types of pathology

Medical examination

Treatment of urinary incontinence in older men involves first determining the cause of the disorder. Certain tests and analyzes are used for diagnosis. The scope of required research is determined by the doctor individually, based on the symptoms and type of illness.

• Urination diary. Using records allows you to monitor the amount of fluid consumed and the frequency of bladder emptying.
• Analysis of urine. Helps identify the presence of bacterial flora and blood impurities, as well as diagnose diabetes.
• Ultrasound of the bladder, kidneys.
• Uroflowmetry. Allows you to determine the volume of urine excreted, its speed and the time required to completely empty the bladder.
• Profilometry. During diagnosis, the pressure in the urethra is determined.

When the urologist fails to detect abnormalities in the urinary system, he refers the patient to a neurologist. Based on test results, doctors can confirm the diagnosis of urinary incontinence. In older men, treatment for this disorder is complex and includes several treatment methods simultaneously. They are described in more detail below.

Types of disorders and causes of development

Urinary incontinence in men is very difficult to treat, and although this disease is not life-threatening, it still significantly reduces its quality

Urinary incontinence varies according to the time and intensity of its manifestation, as well as the reason for its development. The scientific name for the problem is incontinence.

The term “incontinence” usually covers three types of disorders:

• bedwetting, or enuresis;
• leakage of urine after emptying the bladder;
• incontinence caused by other reasons.

Children and adolescents experience enuresis; this problem is practically not observed in adults (the frequency of cases is less than 1%). Enuresis is typical for boys and girls under nine years of age and is a manifestation of the imperfection of the autonomic nervous system of a growing organism. By about 15-16 years of age, this problem goes away without leaving a trace.

Urine leakage may be due to weakening of the muscles that are involved in emptying the bladder. This problem is typical for elderly patients and for men who have suffered severe diseases of the genitourinary system.

The main causes of involuntary urination:

• various disorders in the central nervous system;
• surgical manipulations on the organs of the urinary system;
• age-related disorders in the urinary system;
• tumor neoplasms;
• pelvic organ infections;
• stones in the bladder;
• reaction to certain groups of medications.

Incontinence is urinary incontinence. The reasons for the development of the problem in men are varied: from stress to prolonged suppression of the urge to urinate.

The disorder is not always caused by age-related changes. A young man may also encounter a problem, since impaired urine output can occur with prostatitis and cystitis. In men over 50 years of age, the problem may be associated with prostate adenoma. Benign hyperplasia puts pressure on the bladder, which may cause urine to leak. It is noteworthy that bedwetting in men is associated precisely with “prostatic” causes of development - prostatitis or adenoma.

Stress incontinence: characteristics and causes

The most common type of spontaneous urination is stress incontinence. Men of all ages face this disorder. The release of a small amount of urine is observed at the time of strong stress on the abdominal cavity and bladder. This happens due to:

• sudden sneezing;
• strong laughter;
• coughing attack;
• jumping;
• lifting weights;
• sudden change in body position.

The peculiarity is that before a stressful event a person does not feel the urge to urinate. This incontinence manifests itself in a mild form; with exertion, only a few drops of urine are released, which can be seen on the underwear.

Urge incontinence

Urgent (imperative, emergency) urinary incontinence in middle-aged and elderly men is a consequence of infectious diseases or cerebrovascular disorders, which lead to increased bladder tone. Causes:

• ptosis of the abdominal organs;
• prostatitis;
• prostate adenoma;
• stroke;
• multiple sclerosis;
• prostate tumors.

This type of urinary incontinence occurs much more often in older men than in young men, which is explained by predisposing development factors characteristic of people in the older age group. In young men, urge incontinence may occur after injuries to the spinal column and pelvic organs.

The disorder is manifested by a spontaneous, uncontrollable urge to go to the toilet. As a result, failure can occur even on the way from the room to the restroom. Urination occurs suddenly and in full. The frequency of such urges varies within two hours.

Characteristics of postoperative incontinence

Postoperative urinary incontinence in men can be attributed to a special case of stress (tension) incontinence, which can go away on its own within the first year to one and a half years

The risk of developing urinary incontinence in men after pelvic surgery does not depend on age. This phenomenon is observed as a complication after surgical manipulations on the prostate gland, testicles, bladder, and urethra.

Postoperative urinary incontinence in men over 60 years of age is often a consequence of removal of prostate adenoma or radical prostatectomy for cancer.

The disorder can manifest itself either temporarily, during the period of rehabilitation after surgery, or on an ongoing basis, if the surgical intervention is performed incorrectly. In some cases, repeat surgery is necessary to treat incontinence.

Bladder overflow and urinary incontinence

Urine leakage when the bladder is full is a consequence of prostate adenoma. Men over 50-60 years old face this problem, since adenoma is an age-related disease.

With benign prostatic hyperplasia, there is constant pressure from the enlarged organ on the bladder. As a result, the tone of the bladder increases, and it does not empty completely, and the urethra narrows, which is why urination occurs in small portions, but very often.

Urine stagnates in the bladder, which can sometimes lead to the spontaneous release of a few drops of urine. Such a disorder is not always present in adenoma and is observed in elderly men with a long course of the disease. Quite often, the adenoma is accompanied by drip urinary incontinence at night in men, since during sleep the prostate swells and puts even more pressure on the overfilled bladder.

Temporary or transient incontinence

Another type of spontaneous urine loss is transient incontinence. It is a symptom of some infectious diseases of the genitourinary system, severe intoxications of the body, a reaction to taking certain drugs (tranquilizers, antidepressants, diuretics).

This type of disorder can be accompanied by strong psycho-emotional stress and some neurological diseases.

As a rule, with this form of disorder, specific treatment for urinary incontinence in men is not required. The problem disappears on its own after identifying and treating the pathology that led to such a complication.

Lifestyle

The fight against incontinence should begin with the elimination of stressful activities. To do this, men are recommended to sleep at least nine hours a day. It is better to go to bed no later than 11 pm. Before going to bed, you should not smoke or drink alcoholic beverages, as this affects the tone of the muscles of the urinary system. If you cannot fall asleep at this time, you can take a soothing infusion or decoction. Motherwort, lemon balm tea, and valerian are excellent for these purposes.

Diagnostics

Urine incontinence is diagnosed according to the standard procedure. First, the urologist conducts a survey and physical examination of the patient. Next, he writes out directions to the patient for diagnostic procedures:

• Cystoscopy.
• Urethrography.
• Cystometry.
• Contrast urethrocystography.
• Uroflowmetry.
• Ultrasound of the excretory system.

Laboratory tests are required: OAM, UAC, biochemical analysis of urine, bacterial culture of urine for microflora. With the help of studies of the patient’s biological material, the presence (absence) of foci of inflammation and signs of disruption of the functioning of internal organs that can provoke incontinence are revealed.

Proper nutrition

Changing the usual diet is an important step in the fight against pathology such as urinary incontinence in older men. Treatment at home does not imply following a strict diet, but there are still some rules:

1. It is necessary to exclude spicy and pickled dishes, as well as all spices.
2. Salty and sweet foods come under strict control.
3. You should try to avoid drinks that contain caffeine.
4. The basis of nutrition for incontinence is foods with fiber. If the intestines are fully emptied, it will not put pressure on the bladder.

In general, doctors recommend adhering to standard healthy eating rules. The diet should consist of lean meats and fish, plenty of fresh vegetables, and dairy products. Improving nutrition is necessary to correct body weight and combat excess weight. After all, it is the latter problem that is a factor predisposing to the occurrence of incontinence.

Treatment

Before treating urinary incontinence in older men and young men, it is necessary to identify the presence or absence of serious genitourinary diseases against which this pathology develops. They may be the basis for the use of surgery, for example, on the bladder or prostate to eliminate the symptoms of enuresis.

In addition, medications and herbal therapy are prescribed for neurological disorders that lead to involuntary emptying of the bladder.

Important. In order not to further weaken the muscle tone of the urethra, it is necessary to exclude smoked foods, pickles and marinades from the diet and drink water only in small portions, but not more than 2.5 liters per day.

Surgery

If conservative therapy is not effective, then treatment of urinary incontinence in young and elderly men is carried out:

• plastic method: an artificial implant is inserted into the bladder, a non-functioning organ is replaced with a plastic prosthesis;
• introduction of gel into the urethra, especially with urgent urinary incontinence. This transurethal method eliminates sudden urges and helps control urination;
• using the slang method: inserting a special loop under the urethra to support the pelvic floor and reduce pressure on the walls of the bladder.

For urinary incontinence in the elderly, catheterization is widely used: a catheter or a special balloon is inserted into the urethra. It expands and ensures timely and complete removal of urine from the bladder.

Bladder surgery for urinary incontinence

An artificial sphincter (ring valve) is implanted into the bladder in the case of oncology and radical prostatectomy, i.e. the prostate is removed. It is also performed if benign prostatic hyperplasia (adenoma) (BPH) is detected.

If there has been a pelvic injury, internal sphincter insufficiency is diagnosed, the bladder functions normally, but incontinence occurs, then an artificial sphincter is implanted. This method is fraught with complications: erosions, periprosthetic infections, damage to prosthetic components.

It is important to know. It is contraindicated to implant an artificial sphincter if there is incontinence due to uncontrolled contraction of the bladder, since the implant keeps the urethra closed until the man wants to void.

During surgical interventions for prostate tumors: high-quality and malignant, injection therapy with collagen is performed. But this measure is temporary, since the gel migrates and dissolves, it cannot be considered a reliable method.

Sling operations or implantation of a male sling to support the urethra are carried out as follows: the urethra is wrapped in a synthetic mesh and its other end is attached to the pelvic bones. Such a loop continuously compresses the bulbous urethra, preventing urine leakage. To install the loop, use the perineal or retropubic approach. The expected effect is obtained in 75-90% of cases.

Drugs

Medicine for motor urinary incontinence
The following medicine for urinary incontinence in men is used:

1. Driptan - for unstable bladder function due to neurogenic disorders (detrusor hyperreflex) due to widespread sclerosis or spina bifida, or idiopathic dysfunction of the detrusor (motor incontinence).
2. Composition Super Optimal as a broad-spectrum drug: for incontinence and for the prevention of diseases of the genitourinary tract, increasing prostate function and potency.
3. Prostavit is a homeopathic remedy for frequent and prolonged urination with a small volume of urine, a weak stream and incomplete emptying of the bladder. The composition includes pumpkin seed oil, herbal extracts, zinc, vitamin E, orotic acid, magnesium oxide, beta-sitesterol. Course 1-2 months, 1 capsule three times a day.

Natural herbal remedy in tablets for enuresis
Urinary incontinence in men of any age: treatment (tablets):

• Alfuzosin, Terazosin, Doxazosin, Tamsulosin-LF are alpha blockers. They normalize the flow of urine, relieve spasms of smooth muscles;
• Duasteride, Finasteride - 5-alpha reductase blockers: inhibit the male sex hormone, shorten the pancreas, reduce urinary retention and incontinence;
• Imipramine and its analogues: Imizin, Tofranil, Depsonil - tricyclic antidepressants - relax muscles and block nerve impulses, which cause bladder spasms;
• Darifenacid, Propantheline, Tolterodine, Trospium chloride, Oxybutynil, Solifenacin (sulfinate) are antispasmodics for relaxing muscles and reducing bladder cramps.

Urinary incontinence in older men can be the result of physiological changes and due to side effects due to constant and heavy use of medications. Then doctors recommend a homeopathic complex in drops of Karsat EDAS-136 or in granules: EDAS-936 and Hepu EDAS-953.

They improve the functioning of the liver and gallbladder and remove drug contaminants, lead and mercury or other carcinogens. Cleansing the body with these products should be done every six months. After detoxification, treatment of urinary incontinence in elderly patients will be more effective.

Body cleanser in drops

Conservative therapy includes physiotherapy: radon baths, magnetic therapy, electrical stimulation, as well as home procedures using traditional methods.

The following medicine should be taken for urinary incontinence in older men and middle-aged and young people:

• insist in 1 tbsp. boiling water for 2-3 hours leaves and flowers of yarrow or dill seeds and drink fresh infusion 2 times a day before meals;
• make milk of the poppy (1 glass) and add crushed plantain seeds to it on the tip of a knife, take 3-4 times a day;
• Make a decoction (for 0.5 liters - 1 tbsp each of dry or fresh berries, boil for no more than 15-20 minutes) from blackberries and blueberries or eat fresh berries, drink 1 tbsp of decoction. 4 times/day before meals;
• make an infusion of medicinal sage (40 g per 1 liter of water, leave under a fur coat for 2 hours), or marshmallow (6 g of root powder per 1 tablespoon of boiling water, leave for 8 hours) or an infusion of corn silk (1 tablespoon per 500 ml of boiling water, drink 3-4 times before meals), do not drink the product before going to bed, but only during the day;
• for inflammation of the bladder and frequent urination, take the decoction in 4 doses from the mixture: 2 tbsp. l. yarrow, 2 tsp. golden mustache and birch buds, pour 2.5 tbsp. l. mixture with raw water and boil for 5-7 minutes, then filter;
• for difficulty urinating and bladder spasms, infuse under a fur coat for 60 minutes in 1 tbsp. boiling water 1 tbsp. l. mixtures of valerian root and lemon balm (20 g each) and cinquefoil - 30 g, drink warm in one dose.

Milk of the poppy
Use the following folk remedies for urinary incontinence in older men as an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agent:

• mix in equal parts by weight calendula flowers, string, St. John's wort and golden mustache and 1 tbsp. l. Boil the mixture in 300 ml of water for 15 minutes, leave for 60 minutes and separate the grounds, drink 50 ml 20 minutes before meals 4 times;
• drink 1-2 tsp 30 minutes before meals. fresh celery juice;
• Make an infusion of common chicory: 250 ml of boiling water - 1 tsp, leave for 2 hours and drink in 2 doses before meals.

Frequent urges and urinary incontinence can be treated with microenemas at night from infusions of: yarrow (10:100), sage (5:100), chamomile (10:100), larkspur root (15:100), periwinkle (5:100), cones hops (10:100).

If a relapse occurs after treatment and an exacerbation occurs, the patient needs to remain calm. Apply thermal procedures, painkillers: ointments and herbs, UHF, physiotherapy procedures: massage and quartz, hydrogen sulfide and radon baths, apply paraffin and therapeutic mud applications to the lower back and sacrum, perform intimate muscle exercises, for example, Kegel exercises.

Alcohol and coffee, smoking, diuretics should be excluded so as not to increase urinary incontinence, and begin to reduce body weight. You need to empty your bladder regularly, make sure it doesn't overfill, or train it by emptying it at regular intervals.

Gymnastics for men

You need to sit on a chair, spreading your legs to the side, and hold your hands at will. The exercise consists of 3 phases counting 1-8:

• I – on a count of 1-3, inhale, contracting and tightening the muscles of the perineum along with the buttocks and the pelvic diaphragm towards the abdomen, coccyx and sacrum;
• II – hold the tension for a count of 4-5;
• III – on the count of 6-8 – exhale and complete relaxation.

Repeat the exercise 10-15 times and do 2-3 approaches. It can be performed at home, in the office and while driving a car.

Exercise for hip extension while sitting on a machine

At the gym, it's helpful to do leg raises while sitting on a thigh machine or standing with your knees and shins on a Hip Shaper. The exercise also consists of three phases and counting by 1-8, as above. Perform 8-12 times in 2-4 approaches.

Hip Shaper

Exercises for the intimate muscles of a man can be performed during sexual intercourse in positions from the side or from above, using a count of 1-8:

• insert the sexual organ into the vagina on a count of 1-3 and at the same time retract the gluteal and abdominal and perineal muscles;
• hold the tension for a count of 4-5 and fully insert the penis into the womb;
• bring the sexual organ to the count of 6-8 and at the same time contract the diaphragm of the pelvis, buttocks and perineum.

This exercise effectively relieves the problem of urinary incontinence and makes it possible for both partners to experience intense sexual sensations.

Kegel exercises

This set of exercises is recommended by many experts for a disorder such as urinary incontinence in older men. Treatment in this case is aimed at eliminating spontaneous urination. To do this, you need to tense and alternately relax the muscles of the perineum.

First you need to determine where exactly they are located. To do this, you need to try to abruptly stop the process of urination and remember the sensations. After this, you can proceed directly to the exercises themselves. You need to tense your pelvic muscles for 3 seconds and then relax for the same time. You can gradually increase the time interval.

Manifestations of pathology in men

Increased and involuntary enuresis in representatives of the stronger sex is rarely observed, which is due to their physiological structure. The causes of spontaneous urination in men lie in the following diseases:

• prostate cancer;
• BPH;
• age-related disorders of muscle elasticity;
• previous surgical operations on the prostate gland;
• psychological pathologies, incl. strong emotional shocks;
• neurological diseases: in this category, doctors tend to single out Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke;

• urinary tract infections;
• traumatic lesions of the spinal cord or brain that disrupt the connection of these organs with parts of the urinary system;
• long-term use of certain medications;
• formation of stones in the kidneys or bladder.

If urine begins to be released randomly, or frequent sudden urges to urinate occur, a man should immediately consult a doctor. Only by determining the cause of this phenomenon will it be possible to get rid of the unpleasant phenomenon.

Drug therapy

If the methods described above fail to eliminate urinary incontinence in older men, treatment becomes more complicated. Drug therapy is also prescribed for infectious or neurological etiology of the disorder. To eliminate the violation use:

• Antibiotics.
• Alpha blockers (Terazosin, Uroxatral). These drugs are prescribed to combat incontinence caused by an enlarged prostate gland.
• Antispasmodics to relax the bladder.
• Some antidepressants (Duloxetine, Imipramine).

The duration of drug therapy usually does not exceed three months. If after some time the doctor re-diagnoses urinary incontinence, treatment with tablets is resumed in older men.

Diagnostic techniques

For urinary incontinence in men, it is important to make an accurate diagnosis in a timely manner. The following examinations will help you find out where the problem came from:

• Studying a urine sample for contamination with pathogenic microflora, as well as the presence of blood components.
• Blood analysis. The biochemical properties of the material are being studied.
• Ultrasound. The features of the urethra and all nearby organs are studied. This test is widely used to identify prostate diseases.
• Urofluometry. Helps determine the volume of one portion of urine secreted in the male body, as well as the speed of its flow.
• Magnetic resonance or computed tomography. Such techniques make it possible to unambiguously answer the question about the presence of pathology, since with their help they obtain images of the pelvic organs in various projections.

Based on the results of all the studies performed, the doctor makes a diagnosis. Only after this is a correct treatment program for incontinence in adult men developed. At the same time, the patient is given recommendations on hygiene and lifestyle adjustments.

Surgical intervention

In most cases, thanks to drug treatment of incontinence, it is possible to achieve positive dynamics. If such therapy is ineffective, surgery is prescribed. Treatment tactics are determined depending on the form of the disorder and the results of previous attempts to combat the disease. Surgery is usually required for patients with paradoxical/stress incontinence. The following types of interventions can be performed:

1. Implantation of an artificial form of sphincter. The surgeon makes a small incision in the perineal area, through which a silicone prosthesis is inserted into the urethra. It consists of a cuff, a pump and a reservoir of sterile fluid. Inflating the cuff prevents urine from escaping.
2. Sling surgery. The doctor places a loop of inert material under the urethra itself. Its main function is to slightly elevate the urethra. Thus, intra-abdominal pressure will not affect it.
3. Injection of a special gel into one of the walls of the urethra.

Cancer is one of the main reasons why urinary incontinence develops in older men. Medicines for such a diagnosis are usually ineffective, so the bubble is removed. However, the human body cannot fully function without this organ. An artificial version of the bladder is made from part of the intestine, and the ureters are sewn into it. It will open onto the anterior abdominal wall, so a urinal is additionally placed in this area.

With the help of the surgical options described above, it is possible to completely eliminate urinary incontinence in elderly men.

Diagnostic methods

Involuntary urination may indicate the development of a serious pathological process. If the first signs occur, you should immediately contact a urologist. To make a diagnosis, the doctor uses the following types of diagnostics:

• Ultrasound;
• endoscopy;
• urethrography;
• Pad test;
• uroflowmetry;
• urethral profilometry;
• cystometry;
• sphincterometry.

Ultrasound allows you to assess the condition of the urinary system. An endoscopy is performed to examine for the presence of a tumor. During the examination, a special device is inserted into the urethra. On the screen, the doctor sees the urinary canal and bladder from the inside, which allows him to assess the extent of the damage. If necessary, a tissue sample may be taken for a biopsy.

Urethrography involves injecting a special substance into the urethra and conducting an X-ray examination. The resulting image shows the general condition of the urethra and urinary tract.

Pad test - collecting in a special pad everything that is secreted from the urethra during the day. This is necessary in order to assess the amount of fluid released and the severity of the lesion.

Uroflowmetry allows you to evaluate the rate of urine flow during urination. This procedure shows muscle tone and overall patency of the urethra. Using profilometry, you can see the condition of the closing apparatus of the urethra.

When performing cystometry, the volume of the bladder is measured when the patient feels the urge to urinate. Sphincterometry shows the condition of the sphincters. With this type of diagnosis, the patient must keep a special diary, recording the number and volume of involuntary urination.

The patient must also complete a series of questionnaires regarding how the disease affects their quality of life. Based on the examination results, the doctor selects an effective therapeutic regimen.

Treatment with folk remedies

Many patients do not trust conservative therapy and prefer to use prescriptions from traditional healers for treatment. This approach has its place, but you must first consult with your doctor. The most popular treatment options with folk remedies are listed below.

Sage is considered a medicinal plant that cures many ailments. To prepare a decoction for incontinence, you will need 40 g of dry herb. The mixture must be poured with a liter of boiling water and left for 2 hours. It is recommended to take one glass of the decoction three times a day.

Yarrow is found everywhere. It is actively used by traditional healers in their practice. If you need to get rid of involuntary urination, you will need to pour 10 g of herb into a glass of water. The resulting mixture must be boiled for about 10 minutes. After the decoction has infused, you can take 150 g three times a day.

Treatment tactics

To eliminate incontinence, you will need to treat the disease that causes it. For infectious diseases, anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, and antispasmodics are indicated. In case of structural anomalies or injuries, surgical intervention and postoperative treatment cannot be avoided. It can be aimed both at restoring natural anatomy and at implanting artificial pelvic organs and suturing stretched muscles.

For women after pregnancy, therapy is prescribed taking into account the fact that not all drugs are tolerated by the newborn baby if the mother is breastfeeding. If treatment requires the use of potent drugs or surgical intervention, it is postponed until the end of lactation, and in emergency cases the baby is switched to formula.

Caution should be used when treating younger patients, especially if the cause of nocturnal enuresis is psychological. It shows consultations with psychotherapists, the care and attention of parents, adherence to the rules of dietary nutrition and sleep and rest, and physical therapy.

When the pelvic floor muscles are weakened, special gymnastics are indicated - Kegel exercises. It will help tone and strengthen them, which will not only treat unexpected urination, but also prevent many other pelvic diseases.

Prevention

How to prevent urinary incontinence in older men? Treatment (pills, surgery, folk remedies) presented in this article requires patience and time. This is especially true in cases where patients postpone a visit to a specialist every time.

So that you do not have to face this problem, you must periodically undergo a comprehensive examination of the body. When identifying pathologies and diseases of the genitourinary area, treatment cannot be neglected. Otherwise, health-threatening complications may develop, the main symptom of which is incontinence.

In preventive measures, a key role belongs to strengthening the pelvic muscles and combating excess weight. It is very difficult to influence other factors.

Features of the phenomenon in women

Why does involuntary urine leakage occur in women? In most cases, the phenomenon is provoked by bacterial infections of the urinary system, diseases from the field of gynecology and the expectation of a baby.

IMPORTANT! If the cause of the unpleasant process lies in the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria in the pelvic organs, the release of urine is accompanied by itching, burning and pain.

The list of provocateurs also includes:

• menopause, caused by a decrease in the production of the main sexual androgen;
• old age: decreased tone of the pelvic muscles;
• large fetal size or multiple pregnancy;
• previous surgeries in the intimate area;
• injuries of the groin area in which large nerve fibers are torn;
• excess weight;
• diseases and injuries of the spine that affect the integrity of the spinal cord;
• excessive physical activity associated with lifting loads;
• diabetes mellitus: the phenomenon is accompanied by itching, because increased sugar in the urine makes it more mucous;
• chronic inflammation of the bladder;
• stones in parts of the urinary system;
• stool disorders (constipation, diarrhea);
• chronic cough caused by respiratory diseases or smoking;
• pathologies of the central nervous system.

Typically, provoking pathologies occur earlier than uncontrolled urine output, so women are warned about the possibility of such a problem. This allows you to regulate the functioning of the urinary organs and prevent unpleasant symptoms.

What does incontinence mean?

Due to various factors, involuntary leakage of urine may occur, which a person cannot control. This pathology is called enuresis, or incontinence. Women are more likely to experience this disease. It develops due to various processes that occur in all systems of the expectant mother’s body during pregnancy. Over the years, the problem usually becomes more acute.

Incontinence also quite often disrupts the normal life of older men. Therapy should be carried out under the supervision of medical specialists. With a professional approach, this deviation can be prevented or cured.

Urinary incontinence is not easy to diagnose. This is what complicates his treatment. Millions of people today are susceptible to this condition. Men account for a quarter of cases of pathology. According to some reports, about 30% of patients feel the urge to visit the restroom several times during the night, while urine leakage occurs prematurely in most men.

One of the main circumstances that complicates the treatment of incontinence is the reluctance of people to talk about this problem. Therefore, more than 60% of patients do not undergo the necessary therapy and ignore the need for medical intervention to improve the situation.

Read material on the topic: Diseases of old age

Medications

Today, pharmacies offer a huge range of medications designed to treat urinary incontinence in men. But even if they are available without a prescription, you cannot prescribe them yourself. If the drug is chosen incorrectly, the consequences for a man can be unpredictable.

To eliminate enuresis in men, the attending physician usually prescribes:

• Alpha adrenergic blockers are well-known drugs in this group: Pirroxan and Artesin. They help regulate the functioning of the prostate gland and normalize the outflow of urine.
• Antispasmodics - prescribed to reduce pain and reduce contraction of the bladder muscles.
• 5-alpha reductase inhibitors – block the production of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. The complex effect significantly reduces the risk of developing prostate hyperplasia. After 4–6 months of regular use, the prostate will shrink by a quarter, urine will become lighter, and bowel function will also be regulated. The most popular drugs are Dutasteride and Finasteride.
• Herbal medicines - daily consumption of pumpkin seeds and African dwarf palm fruits blocks adrenergic receptors. As a result, the rate of urine outflow is regulated.

To achieve improvement, a man needs to take medications from several pharmacological groups, only in this way will a complex effect be exerted on the body. Doctors say that if therapy is carried out for more than 2 years, the disease will be completely overcome, and the urine will acquire a normal color.

Causes and symptoms

Uncontrolled urination (incontinence) most often occurs in men over 45 years of age and can occur at any time of the day. The cause is a malfunction of the urinary or nervous system or previous illnesses.

Urinary and reproductive system

1. Diseases. Incontinence occurs after diseases such as urolithiasis, prostatitis, cystitis, as well as cytology of the urinary system of a benign or malignant nature.
2. Injuries. The cause of the development of incontinence can be various injuries, previous surgeries, and age-related changes.
3. Anomalies. Genetic or anatomical changes can cause uncontrolled urination.

Nervous system

1. Diseases. The cause of the development of the disease may be a stroke, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cerebral circulatory disorders, multiple sclerosis, or epilepsy.
2. Intoxication. Incontinence affects people who regularly use alcohol and drugs.
3. Injuries. Urinary incontinence can occur after injuries to the spine or brain. Sometimes the cause of the disease is congenital defects of the central nervous system.

The cause of the development of the disease may be enuresis that is not cured at an early age, which is characterized by urinary incontinence at night. Apart from the discomfort of the patient, it does not pose any particular danger.

But with improper treatment or lack thereof, it can lead to serious changes in the functioning of the urinary system.

Despite the different causes of the disease, the symptoms in patients are similar. There is a feeling of incomplete emptying, it seems as if there is a foreign object in the bladder, and the urge to deurinate often occurs.

Diagnosis of the disease

It is possible to find out the reason that led to problems with urination only after examinations and tests. These include urine and blood tests, ultrasound, x-rays of the bladder and kidneys, and a cough test. The doctor also carries out a number of manipulations that allow him to determine the pressure in the urethra and the volume of urine, the required time to empty the bladder, and a number of other examinations aimed at establishing and clarifying the diagnosis. Also, the problem of incontinence is often associated with disruption of the nerve endings. In this case, to make a correct diagnosis, the patient needs to consult a neurologist. After the examinations, subsequent treatment is prescribed. Your doctor will recommend a cure for urinary incontinence in men or suggest another solution to the problem.

Healing properties of plants

Nature has given us a huge supply of medicinal plants and fruits, including:

• onion peel;
• corn silk;
• horsetail;
• cherry;
• cherries;
• Plantain;
• Chicory;
• gooseberry.

And these are not all medicinal plants.

Dill

In case of illness, ordinary Dill is often used. It actively fights inflammation in the genitourinary organs and helps to cope with the problem in a short period. It should not be used by people with high blood pressure.

To prepare medicine from it, you need to pour a tablespoon of dill seeds with a glass of boiling water and leave for 2 hours. After this, the infusion is filtered and drunk at once. Use this mixture once a day for a week.

Yarrow

This plant has positive properties: diuretic, anti-inflammatory and astringent. It is not advisable to use it for a long time; skin irritations may occur as side effects.

To prepare the decoction, you need to grind the Yarrow and pour a teaspoon of the resulting powder into a glass of boiling water. After 2-3 hours you can drink the composition. Use it up to 3 times a day for 7 days.

St. John's wort

This medicinal plant has been known for a very long time. St. John's wort helps restore the functions of the genitourinary system, improves sleep quality, relieves fatigue and stress. It is especially effective if incontinence occurs when coughing.

Making a recipe from it is quite simple. You need to take 40 g of St. John's wort and pour 1 liter of boiling water. The infusion should be wrapped, and after 2 hours, strain and drink throughout the day as tea. The course of treatment is 2 weeks.

You can also mix lingonberry berries and leaves with chopped St. John's wort in equal proportions. The composition must be poured into 3 liters of boiling water. After it has cooled, filter it and take 1 glass 3 times a day.

Sage

Sage has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. To prepare a medicinal infusion from it, you need to pour 40 g of dry plant into 1 liter of boiling water. After a couple of hours you can drink it 3 times a day, half a glass. The recipe is especially suitable for the treatment of urinary incontinence in older men.

Rose hip

The plant is rich in beneficial properties that are used for urinary incontinence. It contains ascorbic acid, vitamins A, E, K and flavonoids. You need to take 4 tablespoons of rose hips and boil them in a liter of water over low heat for 30 minutes. At the very end you need to add 2 tablespoons of its flowers. Then the composition is removed from the heat, filtered and cooled. Take it 2 times a day, 1 glass.

Bay leaf

A decoction of bay leaves helps with many diseases, including problems with the genitourinary organs. It is necessary to boil 2-3 leaves of Laurel for 10-15 minutes, cool and drink half a glass 3 times a day. The treatment course lasts a week.

Birch buds

Pour 1 tablespoon of birch buds into a glass of boiling water. Then cook the mixture for 5 minutes over low heat, covered with a lid. Afterwards the pan is wrapped, and after an hour the infusion is filtered and cooled. Take the decoction 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals. The course of therapy is 2–3 weeks.

Carrot

Fresh carrot

It is recommended to drink freshly squeezed carrot juice in the morning on an empty stomach. Just don't get carried away with it. You can also use chopped carrot tops. 3 tablespoons of it are poured into 1 liter of water and simmered for 30 minutes. Then the composition is cooled, filtered and drunk 2 times a day, 1 glass.

This decoction helps cleanse the walls of the bladder, removes stones and sand from it. You can also prepare the product from carrot seeds. To do this, they are ground into powder and taken 1 g 3 times a day before meals.

Herbal collection

You can prepare mixtures from dried herbs. This remedy is effective even in the last stages of the disease. However, in men, treatment should be carried out carefully; in old age it is better to reduce the dosage by 2 times.

You need to take 100 g of nettle leaves and marshmallow root and add 70 g of yarrow. After mixing the composition, you need to brew 2 tablespoons of it with 400 ml of boiling water. For this it is better to use a thermos. Preparation is carried out in the evening, and in the morning and throughout the day they drink the decoction instead of tea.

Folk wisdom

The use of natural medicines is only possible simultaneously with conservative therapy. You cannot use decoctions and infusions on your own.

Table 13. The most effective folk recipes.

Possible consequences

Against the background of untimely or poor-quality treatment, the consequences of urinary incontinence develop.

Table 5. Consequences of incontinence.

Preventive measures

Through treatment with folk remedies, it is necessary to carry out prevention to reduce the symptoms of the disease:

• It is necessary to get rid of extra pounds, if any.
• It is necessary to increase the amount of foods that contain fiber in your diet. You can add wheat bran to dishes.
• It is better to quit smoking and not drink a lot of alcohol. Bad habits only provoke the development of the disease.
• You need to exclude coffee, as well as chocolate and citrus fruits from your diet.
• It is necessary to remove hot, spicy, too sweet or very salty foods. It is better not to eat watermelon, celery, grapes, asparagus. It is necessary to identify “irritants” - those foods that negatively affect the bladder. They should be consumed in minimal quantities.
• It is important to apply simple rules of personal hygiene that will help prevent the development of infections.
• Some medications may make the problem worse. It's worth talking to your doctor about this.
• You need to go to the toilet at the last minute. You should learn to keep urine from pouring out.
• You need to sleep at least 9 hours a day. It's better to go to bed at 11 pm. You should not drink water at night; you should not drink it more than an hour before bedtime. During the day you need to drink up to 2.5 liters of water.

Just in case, it is recommended to choose easily removable clothing in order to have time to empty your bowels. It is better to keep a bedpan next to your bed. Experts advise not to wait for the urge to go to the toilet, but to set a schedule for yourself. For example, have a bowel movement every 2 hours. After a couple of weeks, you can increase this time to 2.5 hours. It should be a mandatory requirement to visit the toilet before bed to empty the bladder of urine, even if there is no special desire for this.

It is very important to protect yourself from stress and conflicts. It is not necessary to seek help from psychotherapists; you can learn some relaxation techniques on your own. Their essence is to develop control over your body, including the genitourinary organs.

It is necessary to treat infectious diseases in a timely manner, regularly visit a urologist and take care of your men's health. It is important to choose proven and effective treatment methods, and an integrated approach will help you get rid of the problem forever.

Other recipes

There are other natural gifts that help cope with the problem. Honey calms the nervous system and retains fluid in the body. It is useful to take it before bed in the amount of 1 tablespoon.

For the next recipe you will need egg shells. It is necessary to grind it into powder and mix with honey in equal parts. Small balls are made from the resulting mixture. It is necessary to consume 4 balls per day for 1 month. The first results will be felt within 1–2 weeks. A decoction of apples, honey and onions strengthens the bladder especially well. The products need to be crushed and mixed with honey. The fresh mixture is eaten 3 minutes before meals.

Egg shells

The following methods for treating urinary incontinence have been passed down from generation to generation. Among them:

• Pike. You need to thoroughly wash and dry the pike's head. Then it is finely crushed and poured with hot water in an amount of 200 ml. Afterwards, the composition is brought to a boil and filtered. The resulting infusion is drunk for 7 days, 1 time in the evening. You can also use pike air bubbles. To do this, they should be dried and crushed. Take 1 teaspoon of powder before meals with water. The course of therapy is 10 days.
• Potato juice. Squeezed potato juice in the amount of 200 ml should be drunk once a day before meals. The course of treatment is 10 days.
• Herring. You need to clean 1 herring well, remove the seeds from it and cut into pieces. Before going to bed, you need to eat 1 piece of fish. This interesting recipe will help you get rid of wet beds at night.
• Millet. For 5 days, you need to give the patient a warm decoction based on millet. It must be placed in a container and pour boiling water in a ratio of 1 to 2. Leave the composition for 3 hours.

Traditional medicine also recommends the use of special compresses that stimulate blood circulation in the lower abdomen. This strengthens the walls of the bladder. To prepare it you will need ginger. It is grated, placed in cheesecloth and the juice is squeezed out of it. Add half a liter of hot water to the resulting juice and dip a towel in it. While it is hot, you should keep it on your stomach, wrapping another towel on top. The procedure should be done before bedtime.

Essential oils of Sage

Those with bladder problems may benefit from breathing in essential oils. In the patient's room, you need to spray the essential oils of Sage, Lavender and Coriander in a ratio of 3:2:1. A couple of drops of mixed oils are added to any of the prepared herbal infusions and diffused using an inhaler for 10 minutes. The procedure is carried out every day.

Effective treatments

Treatment methods for enuresis in men involve two main areas:

• conservative treatment;
• surgical intervention.

Conservative treatment includes:

• medical supplies;
• physiotherapy;
• dietary nutrition;
• physiotherapy.

Effective physiotherapy - the effect of weak electrical charges on the body. The procedure is aimed at improving the transmission of nerve impulses from the brain to the bladder. The disease can also be treated with paraffin, mud wraps, and acupuncture. The procedures are designed to improve blood circulation in the pelvic organs, strengthen muscle tissue, and relieve hypertension.

All tablets for the treatment of incontinence are divided into several groups:

Tamsulosin

• Alpha blockers. Aimed at relaxing the prostate muscles. Effective drugs - Tamsulosin, Uroxatral. Used for imperative type of incontinence.
• 5-alpha reductase inhibitors. The action of the drugs is aimed at reducing the production of hormones that enlarge the prostate.
• Antidepressants. Helps relax muscles and block impulses that provoke bladder spasms.
• Antispasmodics. Aimed at reducing bladder spasms.
• Botox. A modern technique aimed at reducing spastic contractions.

When conservative treatment does not give positive dynamics, the problem is solved surgically. The operation is also indicated in cases of enuresis caused by spinal injuries or total prostatectomy.

Surgical intervention involves the installation of an artificial sphincter. The treatment method showed high efficiency. In some cases, collagen injections are allowed. It is used to treat patients with urinary tract tumors. The main disadvantage of the injection is the gradual resorption of the substance. The third method of surgical intervention is the implantation of a male loop. In medical circles it is called sling surgery.

The essence of the method is to wrap the urethra with a special mesh. The edges are fixed on the bones of the small pelvis. Thanks to the mesh, the urethra is supported, which prevents involuntary leakage of urine.

Separately, mention should be made of treatment with folk remedies. Alternative medicine is used in conjunction with drug therapy. The use of herbal decoctions of Yarrow, St. John's wort, Sage, lingonberry, bay leaf and a number of other herbs has shown high effectiveness.

Sage

What is urine leakage

Urine leakage should be understood as an unnatural process of urine leaving the urethra, which usually occurs after urination is completed.

It is important to note that with this pathology, such urine secretion occurs uncontrollably, that is, involuntarily. In medicine, this condition is called dribbling.

This pathology is quite common; about 20% of the population suffers from it to varying degrees.

Urine leakage in itself is not dangerous for patients and can occur in completely healthy people in the absence of somatic diseases. However, sometimes it is a symptom of more serious problems and illnesses.

It is important to distinguish urine leakage from enuresis, that is, involuntary urination. The latter is characterized by the fact that the patient does not control this process as a whole.

With urinary incontinence, the bladder empties completely uncontrollably.

As a rule, this occurs during sleep, and the disease is more common in children, which until a certain age is a completely functional feature of their genitourinary system.

Urine leakage occurs immediately after using the toilet - the patient has the urge to empty the bladder and can control this process, but some of the urine does not immediately exit through the urethra, being released a little later, but without control on the part of the patient.

The mechanism of urination is that when the bladder is full to more than one third of its volume, a person begins to feel the need to urinate. After this, this feeling disappears.

When dribbling, some urine remains, but the patient does not feel it.

This pathological condition can be caused by a variety of reasons, and in men and women they can be different due to the structural features of the urinary system.

Causes of urine leakage in men:

• insufficiency of the bulbocavernosus muscle, which causes urine retention in the urethra;
• structural features of the urethra;
• consequences of operations for prostatitis and prostate adenoma;
• prostatitis;

  With prostatitis, an enlarged prostate gland compresses the urethra, complicating the outflow of urine, which is why some of it may remain in the bladder

• tumor neoplasms;
• infectious and inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system.

In women, the causes of urine leakage may include:

• cystitis;
• menopause;
• taking diuretics (diuretics);
• pregnancy.

Causes of urine leakage in children:

• inflammatory diseases of the urethra and bladder;
• psychological problems, stress;
• CNS diseases.

It is worth noting that urine leakage before the age of 4 years is considered relatively normal and does not require special attention from parents and medical professionals.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of urine leakage does not cause any difficulties and is largely based on the patient’s complaints and the collected medical history. It is somewhat more difficult to determine the cause of this pathology.

The most common diagnostic method in this case is ultrasound of the pelvic organs and primarily the bladder.

The essence of the study is to assess the morphological structure of the studied organs and systems. The ultrasound itself is performed in 2 stages - with a full bladder and with an empty one, taking no more than 30 minutes.

This method allows you to fairly accurately identify the causes of pathology.

Ultrasound of the bladder in most cases can identify the source of the problem with urine leakage

Also, if there is leakage, a general urine test should be performed. This study allows you to evaluate the composition of urine and the presence of foreign inclusions in it. As a rule, a urine test reveals infectious and inflammatory processes occurring in the urinary system.

If symptoms of urine leakage occur, you should consult a urologist. Additional consultations with a nephrologist, infectious disease specialist, gynecologist and neurologist may also be required.

Treatment

The tactics for treating urine leakage directly depend on what caused it. Methods of drug therapy, exercise therapy, and physical therapy can be used; in complex cases, surgery may be required. In childhood, gentle methods are used. This, as a rule, involves drug therapy and various types of physiotherapy.

To successfully eliminate this pathology, you should adjust your urination regime. It must be remembered that it is extremely undesirable to retain urine for a long time. It is important to urinate every 2-3 hours.

To strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, you should perform a set of Kegel exercises. Their main thing is alternating unclenching and relaxing muscles:

• Exercise #1:
  Lying on the floor, you should tense your pelvic floor muscles for 5 seconds.
• After this, they need to be relaxed and fixed in this position for 10 seconds.
• The exercise should be performed at least 10 times.

  Performing Kegel exercises trains the pelvic floor muscles, so a person can control urine output

• Exercise #2:
  Lying on your back, you need to squeeze your gluteal muscles and lift your legs up.
• Hold this position for 5 seconds.
• This is followed by ten seconds of relaxation.
• The exercise is performed 10 times.

To achieve positive results, Kegel exercises should be performed regularly at least 2 times a day.

• Pathological changes in the internal part of the urethra, manifested by its narrowing, which causes various types of urination disorders.
• The presence of wide depressions in the wall of the urethra, which have a thin channel connection with the main lumen (diverticula).
• Neoplasms of the urethra.
• Inflammatory processes in the area of ​​the seminal mound.
• Narrowing of the cervical part of the bladder.
• Infectious diseases of the urinary tract.
• Insufficient development of the pelvic floor muscles.
• Orgasm.
• Changes in the prostate of an inflammatory nature.
• A benign growth of prostate tissue (adenoma).
• Malignant tumors of the male gland.
• Endocrine disorders resulting in obesity.
• Hernial defects of the spine.
• Damage to spinal structures.
• Neurological diseases.
• Pathologies associated with circulatory insufficiency of brain structures.
• Certain groups of drugs.
• Surgical treatment of organs located in the pelvis.

Treatment options

For urinary incontinence, therapy is prescribed individually by the attending physician and depends on the type of disease. Treatment is complex, and most often it is impossible to do without taking medications. But in some cases, it is enough to change your lifestyle, avoid stressful situations and give up bad habits.

Often the cause of the disease is the patient's excess weight. Changing your diet aimed at losing weight and eating healthy foods allows you to forget about incontinence.

There is a set of exercises using the Kegel technique that helps strengthen the pelvic muscles. Its use will allow you to cure the disease without taking pills.

If the above methods do not bring the expected result, proceed to treatment with medications.

Considering the etiology of the disease, the patient is prescribed:

1. Antibiotics. Such drugs are relevant for infectious diseases of the urinary system. The most effective drugs are Ampicillin and Ciprofloxacin.
2. Antispasmodics. Antispasmodic drugs help relieve cramps, relax the muscles of the bladder, and contain active ingredients - propantheline, oxybutynin, darifenacin. The most effective remedies are Flavoxate, Tolderodine, Trospium.
3. Alpha blockers. For incontinence that occurs due to prostate enlargement, Alfuzonin, Terazonin, Uroxatral are prescribed. Their action is aimed at relieving smooth muscle spasms, improving urine flow and eliminating uncontrolled urination.
4. The stress type of the disease involves taking antidepressants. Their action is aimed at blocking nerve impulses that provoke spasms of the bladder muscles. The following drugs are used - Imipramine, Duloxetine, Depsonil.

The duration of drug therapy is determined by the attending physician. Most often, the course of treatment is three months. Sometimes the patient is prescribed homeopathic drugs (Urilan, Enural).

Surgery

If there is no positive result after completing a course of drug therapy, surgical intervention is required. Medicine knows more than twenty ways to treat incontinence surgically.

The most common methods are:

1. sling surgery;
2. artificial sphincter.

The first method is aimed at supporting the urethra with the help of a tape installed during surgery. This procedure does not cause complications and is considered the safest. Operations to install an artificial sphincter are performed less frequently. Complications are possible after such an intervention.

A practicing andrologist will talk about the surgical treatment of this intimate problem in the video below - watch it to find out more.

In case of malignant formations, it is possible to remove the bladder, and in its place an artificial one is installed, which is made from part of the intestine.

Traditional methods of treatment

To get rid of the disease, you must first remove the provoking factors. To alleviate the patient’s condition and prevent relapses of the disease, I use the following means:

1. Dill. Allows you to relieve inflammation of the urinary organs, remove spasm of the bladder muscles.
2. Onion. A decoction based on onion peels will reduce the frequency of involuntary urination.
3. Sagebrush. This plant is well suited for warm baths to warm the pelvic bones.
4. Sage. For a liter of boiling water you will need five tablespoons of dry herbal leaves. The resulting product should be drunk a glass three times a day.
5. Plantain. For 250 ml. boiling water 2 tsp. pour herbs, leaves of the plant and let it brew, drink 1 tbsp before meals.

What to do to prevent enuresis?

After the disease has subsided, we must not forget about preventive measures aimed at strengthening the muscles and psychological state of the patient. Preventive measures include :

• Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, accompanied by moderate physical activity on the body.
• Quitting smoking and alcohol.
• Do exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles on a daily basis.
• Examinations by a urologist (about once a year).
• Preventing diseases such as stroke or Parkinson's disease.
• Consumption of vitamins and microelements.

A doctor will tell us about the problem of enuresis in adults in a video clip:

Diagnostic measures

The scope of the study is determined by the attending physician in each specific case, depending on the symptoms of the disease, its course and diagnostic capabilities.

At the initial stage of the diagnostic process, they find out:

• maladjustment of the patient due to the presence of the disease;
• the desired result from the treatment (full recovery, reduction in the severity of clinical symptoms, improvement in quality of life);
• whether the patient wants to assist in treatment (compliance).

At the first visit, each patient undergoes screening tests: filling out the IPSS scale (International Prostatic Syndrome Scale), a questionnaire on the impact of urinary incontinence on the quality of life ICIQ - SF, a screening test for hematuria.

Collecting anamnesis of illness and life

When collecting a clinical history, the duration of the onset of symptoms, their connection with previous diseases, existing chronic diseases or surgical interventions, and the use of certain medications, for example, diuretics, are clarified.

Patient examination

Objective examination data are non-specific. A thorough neurological examination is carried out, which can help identify the disease that caused the development of symptoms of bladder dysfunction. The doctor checks the tendon reflexes: bulbospongiosus, knee, Achilles. Identification of the pathological Babinski reflex allows one to judge about brain damage. The tone of the perineal muscles is determined by a Kegel test.

Urinary Diary

When keeping a diary, the patient records the frequency and volume of urination during the day, urges that did not end with the act of urination, the presence of urine leakage, indicating the circumstances that caused it. In addition, the volume and quality of fluid consumed and the number of nightly visits to the toilet are recorded. Diary data for 5-7 days helps, even without research, to suggest the nature of the pathology.

Cough stress test

The test is performed to provide visual evidence of stress incontinence.

General blood analysis

There may be an anemic syndrome, an increase in the number of leukocytes and ESR, which indicates an active inflammatory process in the body.

Blood chemistry

Biochemistry indicators make it possible to judge the functioning of the kidneys (determination of creatinine and urea), liver (liver tests ALT, AST), identify changes in protein composition (globulins, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein), diagnose diabetes mellitus and the degree of its compensation (glucose level).

General urine analysis

Detection of blood, bacteria, leukocytes, squamous or columnar epithelium indicates an infection of the urogenital tract. The density of urine changes when the concentrating ability of the kidneys is impaired. The presence of glucose is a sign of diabetes.

PSA definition

PSA is a prostate-specific antigen, and its level increases with organ cancer. The material for the study is venous blood.

Ultrasound scanning

Ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs is a mandatory component in the diagnosis of structural and functional disorders. Transabdominal ultrasound is a non-invasive examination that provides information about abnormalities in the structure and position of the kidneys, bladder and ureters.

Transrectal ultrasound of the prostate is performed in patients with BPH and prostate cancer. As prescribed by the doctor, a targeted biopsy of 6 or more (according to indications) areas is simultaneously performed for histological verification of the diagnosis.

X-ray methods

X-ray imaging with contrast determines the presence of obstructions to the outflow of urine (urolithiasis, ureteral strictures), vesicoureteral reflux.

Cystoscopy

Cystoscopy is an endoscopic method for visualizing the mucous membrane of the bladder. The endoscope is inserted through the urethra into the cavity of the bladder, and all information is transmitted to the monitor. On the mucous membrane, the diagnostician can detect inflammation, dystrophy, polyps or tumors.

Urodynamic studies

To clarify the functional state of the genitourinary system, the most informative method is a comprehensive study of urodynamics.

Basic methods for its assessment:

• urofluometry (determining the volume and speed of urine flow, duration of urination);
• cystometry, pressure flow study;
• urethral profilometry.

Urofluometry is a method of graphical assessment of excretory function. This diagnostic procedure is easy to perform, physiological and non-invasive.

Cystometry – measurement of intravesical, intra-abdominal and detrusor pressure. The pressure-flow study shows the relationship between urine flow rate and intravesical pressure during voiding.

This method is an additional diagnostic study, the only absolute indication for performance is to evaluate the results of surgical correction of BPH.

Profilometry is a graphical recording of pressure in various parts of the urethra at rest (with an empty or full bladder) and during stress tests.