‘Urinary leakage is common in men, especially later in life, but many men still remain undiagnosed and hence lack the benefits of modern management,’ says Professor Ian Milsom, Director of the Gothenburg Continence Research Centre.
‘Often men are ashamed of their problem or they are unaware that help is available,’ says Professor Milsom.
Destigmatising incontinence can support your male customers’ wellbeing, and increase the likelihood of them buying the right product from you again and again.
‘Urinary leakage is common in men, especially later in life, but many men still remain undiagnosed and hence lack the benefits of modern management,’ says Professor Ian Milsom, Director of the Gothenburg Continence Research Centre.
‘Often men are ashamed of their problem or they are unaware that help is available,’ says Professor Milsom.
Destigmatising incontinence can support your male customers’ wellbeing, and increase the likelihood of them buying the right product from you again and again.
men are unaware that purpose-made incontinence products for them even exists(3)
men want to talk about bladder issues with a professional like you(4)
men would prefer to consult with a pharmacist, rather than booking a doctor's appointment(5)
There are lots of types of male incontinence mostly affecting men over 40. Here are a few of the most common.
Please note: it’s best to recommend a visit to a doctor or healthcare professional to explore possible causes of incontinence, and possible treatments.
Urge or urgency incontinence is defined as the involuntary loss of urine associated with a strong desire or urgency to urinate. It can be hard to define a cause as there are many different factors that cause urgency, from UTIs, to medication, to an enlarged prostate.
Of course, drinking too much can lead to frequent toilet visits, but so can drinking too little, as urine gets too concentrated and irritates the bladder lining.
SUI occurs when pressure is put on the bladder, e.g. during exercise or a sneeze, and the pelvic floor muscles can’t support the urinary tract as needed to prevent leakage. It’s the most common type of incontinence in women - in men, it’s usually a side effect of prostate surgery.
Some men experience drips and dribbles after visiting the toilet. This is most commonly caused by urine remaining in the urethra after urinating.
This is when the urine flow slows to a trickle or dribble which is hard to shut off and finish.
Problems associated with brain function (such as MS or Parkinson’s) and damage to the spinal cord or nerves can reduce bladder control. The symptoms may differ depending on what part of the nerves are affected.
Prostate enlargement in men is a common cause of bladder emptying difficulties. However, it may also be a result of a weak bladder muscle caused by certain types of medications or nerve damage. If the bladder is not able to completely empty, there is a risk of urine building up in the bladder. Symptoms may include; difficulty in starting to urinate, feeling that the bladder isn’t empty after urinating, an interrupted or weak urine stream, dribbling and frequent night time urination.
Note: If the condition seems to be severe, always refer your customer to a doctor.
Male urinary leakage is more common than you might think, especially in men over 40. Peter is one of the 1 in 4 men who have experienced urinary leakage problems. Here's how it affected him.
Male urinary leakage is more common than you might think, especially in men over 40. Peter is one of the 1 in 4 men who have experienced urinary leakage problems. Here's how it affected him.
TENA Men offers discreet protection from light to heavy urine leakage, with a broad range of pads and pants. Engineered especially for men's bodies, the range locks in leaks and effectively controls odour. So whatever your customer needs, TENA Men has the right product for them.
TENA has been leading the conversation about incontinence for over 60 years. We've used that experience to put together a guide full of advice to help you get your male customers talking, so that you can recommend the best product for them.
TENA has been leading the conversation about incontinence for over 60 years. We've used that experience to put together a guide full of advice to help you get your male customers talking, so that you can recommend the best product for them.
Audited by Josefine Grandin, District nurse, Urotherapist, 2022-11-01
References:
With over 60 years of experience TENA is the world’s leading incontinence brand*. We offer a full range of absorbent products, skincare and digital health technology solutions that are tailored to the needs of individuals, their families and healthcare professionals.
With TENA, Essity is at the forefront of developing products and services that help improve dignity and the quality of people’s lives. We strive for sustainable continence care with better care and better products.
*Source: Euromonitor International Limited; Retail Adult Incontinence, all channels, RSP value sales, Tissue & Hygiene, 2024 edition.
TENA, a brand of Essity – a global leading hygiene and healthy company. Everyday, our products, solutions and services are used by billion people around the world. Our purpose is to break barriers to well-being for the benefit of consumers, patients, caregivers, customers and society. Sales are conducted in approximately 150 countries under the leading global brands TENA and Tork, and other strong brands such as Actimove, Cutimed, JOBST, Knix, Leukoplast, Libero, Libresse, Lotus, ModiBodi, Nosotras, Saba, Tempo, TOM Organic and Zewa. In 2024, Essity had net sales of approximately SEK 146bn (EUR 13bn) and employed 36,000 people. The Company's headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden and Essity is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. More information at essity.com.
