Is Your Enlarged Prostate Causing Leaks? Understanding BPH and Urinary Incontinence

Many men over 50 years of age, experience an unwelcome visitor: enlarged prostate, also known as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). While not cancerous, it can cause bothersome urinary symptoms like frequent urination, weak stream, and night-time bathroom trips. But did you know BPH can also be linked to urinary incontinence or accidental urine leakage? Let’s delve into this connection and what you can do about it.

Imagine your prostate as a ring around your urethra, the tube carrying urine out. When enlarged, it squeezes the urethra, making urination difficult. This can sometimes lead to:

• Overflow incontinence: Your bladder gets too full, and urine leaks out even when you try to hold it.
• Urge incontinence: Sudden, uncontrollable bladder contractions lead to leaks before you reach the bathroom.

But wait, isn’t that stress incontinence, where leaks happen with coughing or jumping? While stress incontinence is more common in women, BPH can sometimes weaken the pelvic floor muscles, contributing to this type of leakage too.

So, how do you know if BPH is behind your leaks? Talk to your doctor! They’ll ask about your symptoms, perform a physical exam, and may recommend tests like a urine flow test or ultrasound.

There are treatment options for both BPH and urinary incontinence. Depending on the severity, these might include:

• Lifestyle changes: Limiting fluids before bed, pelvic floor muscle exercises (Kegels), and managing underlying conditions like diabetes.
• Medications: To relax the prostate or strengthen the bladder muscles.
• Minimally invasive procedures: Like microwave therapy or steam therapy to shrink the prostate.
• Surgery: In severe cases, to remove excess prostate tissue.

Here’s a tip: Keep a bladder diary to track your urination habits and leakage episodes. This information can be invaluable for diagnosis and treatment decisions.