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Men suffering from urinary stress incontinence experience uncontrollable urinary leakage during certain activities. Physical activities, such as lifting or working out, may place extra pressure on the bladder through the abdomen, and urinary leakage results. Sometimes, sneezing, coughing or laughing is all it takes to cause urine to leak uncontrollably for men.

Prostate medical conditions, including enlarged prostate, prostate removal and treatments for prostate conditions involving radiation therapy, may result in urinary incontinence. Urinary leakage that’s caused by prostate conditions or treatments may be temporary, but in some cases, it is significant as well as persistent, or long term.

Today, there are many stress incontinence treatments available to men. Treatment options depend on medical conditions, the severity of the urinary leakage and personal choice. Medications, lifestyle and behavioral changes and surgery are three options that may effectively resolve urinary leakage for men.

Men who are overweight may be able to minimize or gain control over urinary leakage by losing weight. Exercising for weight loss may be helpful, and specific exercises that strengthen the pelvic muscles are recommended by many physicians. Such specialized exercises can help the pelvic muscles hold urine in the bladder for controlled voiding.

How urinary incontinence is treated depends on several factors, including how severe the problem is, lifestyle and personal preferences. Some men are able to alleviate leakage by losing weight and exercising to strengthen pelvic muscles that hold urine in the bladder. Regulating fluid intake and timed bladder voiding may also help.

In addition to exercise and weight loss, dietary changes may help with incontinence. Substantially reducing or completely eliminating caffeinated beverages and carbonated drinks may help, and limiting alcohol intake to one drink a day may be effective.

Certain foods can irritate the bladder and can be eliminated from the diet. These might include citrus fruits, tomatoes, spicy foods, chocolate and dairy products. Men can experiment with eliminating these foods one at a time to see if doing so reduces or eliminates urinary leakage.

Men who try dietary and lifestyle adjustments aren’t guaranteed to succeed with controlling urinary leakage. In more severe or stubborn cases, medications that may be helpful can be prescribed by a physician. Oftentimes, a combined approach involving both behavioral adjustments and medications is most effective.

Surgical procedures including the implant of a male incontinence sling, such as the Coloplast Virtue, are generally a last treatment resort, although such surgery is usually not complicated.

Men suffering from urinary incontinence following prostate surgery have until recently had very few options when it comes to treatment. While devices requiring major surgery have shown some success, many men are skeptical of undergoing more major procedures, especially when success rates are not remarkably high. For men who opt out of surgery, treatment often involves physical therapy, kegel exercises, rectal stimulator therapy, and the constant use of incontinence pads or adult diapers. There is no doubt that the condition can have a severe impact on quality of life. The Coloplast Virtue, recently introduced in the United States, is bringing men a great deal of hope for a long term solution.

The Coloplast Virtue is unique in many ways. The product is a sling that is implanted through only a minor incision that serves to compress the urethra to help unwanted urination while also helping to place the urethra back in its proper place. The urethra shifts following the removal of the prostate, which is the main cause of postoperative incontinence. Once the Virtue is implanted, scar tissue will form around the arms of the device, effectively rooting it in place. The Virtue requires no manipulation to allow for urination, which helps to make it different from many of the other solutions on the market.

While the Virtue is still relatively new, it is already showing a great deal of promise. It is considered the first viable long term solution for incontinence caused by prostate surgery and many men are pleased to find a solution that does not require major surgery. The Virtue offers great benefit to men who are experiencing urine leakage when coughing, standing, or experiencing other pressure on the abdomen. To learn more about the Coloplast Virtue, take the time to read information from the manufacturer as well as to speak with your doctor.