Discover the causes of male bladder weakness
Bladder weakness affects 1 in 10 men and can happen at any age and in the majority of cases, bladder weakness is caused by prostate issues, however it can also be caused by a weakening of the pelvic floor muscles that keep the urethra closed. Whenever they lose their elasticity, everyday activities such as laughing, coughing, lifting and running can cause a leak. However, they can be strengthened again – visit the exercise area to find helpful information about pelvic floor exercises.
There are several types of incontinence. Click here to read more about them.
There is no single cause of male bladder weakness but common factors are listed below as well as information on how the male urinary system works.
How does the male urinary system work?
The kidneys filter unneeded substances from the blood stream and send them to the bladder, a muscular bag which can stretch to hold up to 500ml when full. At half-full nerves tell the brain that it’s time to urinate and send urine down the urethra, which is kept closed by two sphincter muscles. The inner sphincter will open when the bladder is full but the outer sphincter muscle can be voluntarily held shut to maintain control over urination. The pelvic floor muscles lie beneath the bladder and around the urethra to keep them working correctly. However, for 1 in 8 men there’s an interruption to this chain of events causing a leakage.
Prostate Problems
A swollen prostate impeding the passage of urine, can often lead to Urge Urinary Incontinence, or ‘the sudden need to go’.
Prostate surgery can cause the muscles to become temporarily weakened or damaged leading to Stress Urinary Incontinence – involuntary leaks when you laugh, cough or undertake certain physical activities.
Weight
Being overweight can also put extra pressure on abdominal and pelvic muscles, leading to bladder weakness.
Medical Conditions
Other causes of bladder weakness include certain medical conditions such as stroke, dementia or diabetes. Often it’s because of damage or interference to nerve passageways preventing the right signals travelling between the brain and the bladder or, in the case of dementia, failure to register those signals. This can lead to either an overactive bladder (the need to go often and frequently) or an under-active bladder (the ineffective emptying of the bladder, causing leakage).
Neurological Conditions
Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Spina Bifida, Multiple Sclerosis or brain injury can also affect the way the brain and bladder communicate resulting in an inability to control the bladder or empty it completely.
Prescription Medication
Incontinence can be a side effect of certain medications, and some medicines have diuretic properties making you want to urinate more frequently. If you have recently started on or changed medication, and this has coincided with a loss of control, it may be worth arranging a review with your doctor to determine whether it's a possible cause of bladder weakness. Sometimes medications for other conditions can be changed or dosages reduced without altering their effectiveness.
Urinary Tract Infections (UTI's)
Urinary infections can lead to bladder hypersensitivity. This is when the bladder incorrectly sends urgent signals to your body to empty quickly when it's not completely full.
If you have further questions on causes of bladder weakness, you should consult your health advisor.
Now you know the causes, find out how thousands of men deal with everyday bladder weakness in what you can do about bladder weakness.