Bladder control for men is a very important issue. Although loss of bladder control or incontinence isn’t necessarily a natural occurrence as a man ages, its main causes tend to be more common in older men thus creating a popularly believed association. In truth, incontinence in men is a result of an internal abnormality or dysfunction. The source of the dysfunction may be any one of the organs involved in the proper urinary process making an accurate diagnosis somewhat difficult.
Overactive bladder for men, How does it Work?
Men are normally able to control their bladders because of the bladder muscle and the sphincter. The bladder itself stretches whenever urine dribble from the kidney flows into it. The bladder muscles relax allowing it to expand and accommodate a substantial amount of liquid. At the front or opening of the bladder, the sphincter acts a like a cork and blocks the opening by contracting. This prevents the urine from flowing directly into the urethra.
When the bladder becomes full, our nerves tell the brain that it’s time to discharge the urine. At this moment we start feeling the “urge” to urinate and are normally able to hold it in until we reach the comfort room. Once there, we relax our sphincter and contract our bladder squeezing the urine out.
So basic bladder control for men isn’t really difficult for so long as all the involved parts are working properly. Incontinence occurs when one or more of the “parts” isn’t working the way it should.
What Causes Lose of Bladder Control In Men?
The main problems that result for uncontrollable bladder are normally associated with the prostate, the nerves and the urethra.
Prostate problems – the prostate surrounds the urethra so when it enlarges (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia) it can squeeze the urethra and cause a blockage. Once blocked, the urine will fill up in the bladder and slowly overflow due to pressure once it reaches the limit. This condition is known as overflow incontinence.
Nerve damage – if your nerves are damaged it can result in improper communication between the brain and the bladder organ. The result is normally an over reactive bladder which contracts inappropriately causing the release of urine. This condition is known is urge incontinence and is probably the most embarrassing type of loss of bladder control for men.
Bladder problems – Proper bladder control for men will also be greatly affected by weak bladder muscles. This is a common occurrence after a surgery or after taking strong medication. When the bladder muscles are weakened, even a small pressure applied to it will cause a person to void his bladder (stress incontinence). So laughing, coughing and sneezing can be potential triggers for involuntary loss of urine.
How is Bladder Control for Men Strengthened?
There are two simple methods of strengthening the bladder. The first one is behavioral training and involves certain scheduled bladder voiding. Bladder control for men can also be strengthened by performing exercises that target the pelvic floor muscle. These exercises are known as kegels.
Behavioral Training Method
Behavioral training requires a person to void his bladder at certain scheduled periods. The patient is told to try his best to hold in the urine prior to the scheduled period. This helps the patient develop better control and is very effective in strengthening bladder control for men. As the patient develops better control of his bladder, the period between voiding is increased.
Also, there are three main types of behavioral training designed to strengthen bladder control for men. These are:
• Prompted voiding – a caregiver prompts voiding because patients are unaware of their condition.
• Timed voiding – voiding is scheduled based on a person’s habits.
• Bladder training – schedule is established and period between voiding is gradually increased over time.
Bladder Control Exercises
Kegels exercises are a great way to strengthen bladder control for men. The purpose of the exercise is to develop better control over one’s pelvic floor muscles which can help in controlling the flow of urine.
The exercise is done by performing 1 or 2 sessions of pelvic muscle contractions. Repetitions range from 10-100 depending on how advanced a person is. The trouble for beginners is always finding the correct muscle to contract.
The simplest way to find the pelvic floor muscle is by stopping your pee midway. The muscle you used to stop the flow of pee is the one you need to develop by doing daily kegels.
Better bladder control for men isn’t the only benefit of performing kegels exercises. A strong pelvic floor muscle will also improve your sex life.