5 Common Causes of Urinary Incontinence in Men

Find Out Why Your Bladder Won’t Stop Leaking

Urine leakage is inconvenient and embarrassing. Involuntary bladder leaking is called urinary incontinence (UI), and it is a common problem for adult males. (1) UI is not a disease but rather a symptom that something is going on with your bladder or urinary tract.

While the signs and symptoms of male incontinence are pretty similar for most men, you need to know what’s causing your bladder incontinence to formulate a plan to treat it. In this article, we delve into five common causes of bladder incontinence in males so you can find out what’s causing unexpected dribbling.

The Most Common Reasons for Urinary Incontinence in Males

When you leak urine, it’s a sign that something isn’t working as it should be. For instance, your bladder may not signal when it’s full or might squeeze too hard, creating excess leakage. Alternatively, it might be problems with your urethra—the tube that leads urine from your bladder to outside your body— causing the issue.

Bladder control problems may seem inevitable, but something specific and controllable is responsible for bladder leakage for many men. We outline some of the top causes of UI to help you figure out what might be to blame for your leaky bladder. (1,2) Only then can you create a game plan aimed at correcting what’s going on in your body.

1. An Enlarged Prostate

Prostate issues are a leading cause of male incontinence problems. An enlarged prostate can press against your urethra, causing your bladder to squeeze harder than it should to urinate. Over time, a blocked urethra and overworked bladder can weaken, causing urine to leak between bathroom trips.

Your doctor should check out an enlarged prostate as it can be a sign of cancer or other underlying health issues. The key to minimizing leaky urine is to treat the underlying condition.

2. A Weak Pelvic Floor

You may already know that muscle tone tends to decrease with age. But most people overlook the strength of their bladder and urethra because they aren’t visible. Pelvic floor exercises, known as Kegels, are a helpful tool to strengthen your bladder and reduce bladder leakage.

3. Too Much Caffeine and Alcohol

Neither caffeine nor alcohol causes urinary incontinence directly, but they can both exacerbate the symptoms. As you work to identify what’s causing your urinary incontinence and how to fix it, we recommend cutting back on alcohol and caffeine to make the process easier.

4. Nerve Damage

Nerve damage around the bladder or urethra can cause bladder incontinence. Some conditions, like Parkinson’s disease, cause nerve damage directly. Other conditions, like prostate cancer, require surgery that can damage nerves. Talk to your doctor to see if you have a condition or have had a procedure that can explain your UI symptoms.

5. Weight Gain

Excess weight around the body’s midsection puts more pressure on the bladder. Increased bladder pressure may lead to frequent urination and difficulty holding in urine between bathroom trips. If you’ve recently gained weight, see what you can do to slow the weight gain or shed a few pounds. Kegel exercises may also help strengthen your pelvic floor muscles to help them adjust to the added pressure.

Can Natural Supplements Help Treat Urinary Incontinence?

When you experience bladder control problems, it is a good idea to consider how you might support your bladder health. A healthy bladder is less likely to cause you frequent trips to the bathroom or frustrating leakage issues.

Natural supplements are an excellent tool for male bladder health. BetterMAN is a doctor-formulated natural supplement that combines 18 herb and plant extracts to promote prostate health, bladder control, and sexual stamina.* It’s clinically tested and has been a popular bladder supplement for men since 1999.* When paired with other lifestyle changes, you may notice improvements in leaky bladder symptoms.*