How to deal with incontinence when your prostate becomes inflamed
Prostate inflammation and urinary incontinence can really affect your daily life and well-being. Understanding the relationship between these issues is key to managing symptoms effectively.
This blog post takes a closer look at the causes and symptoms of prostate-related incontinence, focusing on inflamed prostate (or prostatitis).
We'll explore how these conditions impact bladder function, leading to incontinence, and how they can be diagnosed and treated. We'll also examine lifestyle changes that can help reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.
Whether you're experiencing these issues firsthand or looking for information for a loved one, this guide will provide clear, helpful insights into managing prostate inflammation and urinary incontinence.
- What is Prostatitis Incontinence?
- What are the symptoms of an inflamed prostate?
- How does the prostate affect bladder control?
- How to treat prostatitis incontinence
- Live confidently with Incontinence UK
What is Prostatitis Incontinence?
Incontinence can seem like a condition mainly faced by women, but men can often experience some form of bladder-related problem due to a small gland known as the prostate.
The prostate is found below the bladder and surrounds the urethra. Although it is part of the reproductive system, when it becomes inflamed or enlarged over time, it can cause problems related to bladder function.
Prostate inflammation is a tough medical condition for many men worldwide and can be due to bacterial prostatitis or some type of autoimmune reaction. The symptoms are similar, with urinary incontinence being a common result.
What Are the Symptoms of an Inflamed Prostate?
Now we know what an inflamed prostate is and what causes it, let’s take a look at some of the symptoms.
Pain in the Groin and Pelvic Area
Men with chronic prostatitis often experience persistent or intermittent pain in the lower abdomen, groin, or pelvic region. This discomfort may also spread to the lower back, rectum, or even the genitals, creating a broad area of soreness.
Painful Urination (Dysuria)
One of the most common inflamed prostate symptoms is dysuria, which involves a burning or stinging sensation during urination. The urethra and bladder can become highly sensitive, making urination uncomfortable.
Frequent Urination and Urgency
Men with prostatitis may feel the need to urinate more often than usual, including multiple times throughout the night (nocturia). There is also often a strong urge to urinate, which can be difficult to control, sometimes leading to urinary incontinence.
Flu-like Symptoms (in Acute Cases)
Acute bacterial prostatitis can cause symptoms like the flu, including high fever, chills, and body aches. Alongside fever, patients might experience fatigue, muscle pain, and a general feeling of being unwell.
How Does the Prostate Affect Bladder Control?
The prostate gland plays a major role in both the urinary and reproductive systems, acting as a natural valve that helps control the flow of urine. It regulates the release of urine from the bladder by closing the bladder neck and preventing leakage until you go to the bathroom.
During urination, the prostate muscles relax, allowing urine to pass smoothly through the urethra. However, chronic prostatitis, or inflammation of the prostate gland, disrupts this.
The swelling and increased pressure on the urethra can obstruct the flow of urine, leading to difficulty starting urination, a weak or interrupted urine stream, or incomplete bladder emptying.
As the bladder muscles overcompensate to release urine, they can become strained and weakened. This muscle weakening reduces their ability to control urination effectively, often resulting in urinary incontinence.
Managing and Treating Prostatitis Incontinence
Luckily for those tackling prostatitis incontinence, there are several ways to manage the symptoms and treat it, including a variety of medicines and even some exercises.
Antibiotics
When dealing with chronic prostatitis, medications are often the first line of defence, especially if a bacterial infection causes the condition. These medications work by targeting and eliminating the bacterial infection within the prostate, reducing inflammation and alleviating symptoms such as pain, difficulty urinating, and frequent urination.
You will need to contact a health professional for an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs are the most common medications prescribed for chronic prostatitis.
A health professional typically prescribes antibiotics for bacterial prostatitis. The specific antibiotic and duration of treatment depend on the type of bacteria causing the infection.
Common antibiotics include ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and doxycycline.
Anti-inflammatories
In addition to antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medications may be prescribed to help reduce prostate inflammation and relieve pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen, are commonly used.
These medications help to reduce swelling and inflammation in the prostate, which can improve urine flow and decrease the severity of urinary symptoms like urgency and frequency.
Alpha Blockers
Alpha blockers, including tamsulosin and alfuzosin, are another group of medications that can be beneficial for managing chronic prostatitis. These drugs relax the muscle fibres in the prostate and bladder neck, making it easier to urinate. This can help alleviate symptoms of urinary incontinence, improve urine flow, and reduce the sensation of incomplete bladder emptying.
Kegel Exercises
If you've suffered from bladder dysfunction due to prostatitis and are looking to regain healthy urinary function, pelvic floor exercises can be a great help. These exercises, also known as Kegel exercises, focus on strengthening the muscles that support the pelvic organs, including the bladder, prostate, and rectum.
Pelvic floor exercises involve repeatedly contracting and relaxing the pelvic floor muscles. To perform them, first, locate the pelvic floor muscles by attempting to stop your urine mid-flow.
Once you've managed this, you can practice by tightening the muscles, holding for a few seconds, and then relaxing. Repeating this process several times a day can steadily improve muscle strength and endurance.
Bladder Retraining
Similarly, after experiencing bladder incontinence, you might need to retrain your bladder to restore its normal function. Bladder retraining is a common technique that involves gradually increasing the time between bathroom trips. This method helps build up bladder capacity and regain control over urination.
One approach to bladder retraining starts by scheduling bathroom visits at regular intervals, regardless of whether you feel the urge to go.
For instance, you might begin by going to the bathroom every hour. Once you become comfortable with this schedule, you can gradually extend the time between visits by 15 to 30 minutes. The goal is to stretch the intervals to about three to four hours between trips.
During this process, it’s important to stay hydrated but avoid large amounts of fluids at once and try to empty your bladder each time you go. Bladder retraining also involves practising techniques to control the urge to urinate, such as relaxation exercises, deep breathing, and pelvic floor exercises. These practices help strengthen the muscles that support bladder control, further helping manage incontinence.
Incontinence Products
Dealing with urinary incontinence due to prostatitis can sometimes mean having to pick the right product to help manage symptoms. Incontinence products can do a world of good when it comes to short-term management, but which should you choose?
Here's the trick: Consider how severe the symptoms are and what kind of incontinence you have. If it's just a little dribble or mild leakage now and then, those discreet incontinence pads can comfort you and keep you feeling secure. If you have more severe incontinence, then our protective incontinence underwear can help, too.
Live Every Day with Confidence with Incontinence UK
If you're struggling with prostatitis incontinence and are seeking cost-effective solutions that improve your comfort and dignity, then look no further than incontinence pads from Incontinence UK.
When reliability is non-negotiable, our incontinence products do the most. Whether dealing with the sudden urge of urinary incontinence or episodes of faecal incontinence, incontinence pads and pants from Incontinence UK offer reliable protection that reduces discomfort and maximises discretion.
And for prices lower than supermarket costs - even for the most premium brands like TENA and Drylife - Incontinence Shop is the best choice for those looking for incontinence products in bulk.
What's more, if you subscribe to your incontinence product of choice, then you can enjoy 10% off every order as well as convenient doorstep delivery.
