Bladder problems
Stress urinary incontinence is leakage during activities such as coughing, laughing, sneezing or sports. Urinary urgency/urinary urge incontinence is a sudden feeling that you need to rush to the toilet that may also result in leakage. Post-micturition dribble is leakage of a few drops of urine after you have finished passing urine.
You can learn more in the Bladder problems section
Prostatectomy is the most common cause of bladder leakage in men. Thankfully there is a lot you can do to help.
What can I do about it?
- Find out about your pelvic floor muscles and how to strengthen them by reading the NHS Fife Male PFE leaflet and the POGP Pelvic Floor Exercises Leaflet For Men.
- Watch this helpful video Pelvic Floor Exercise Cue For Men.
- There are a number of pelvic floor training apps that you can download for free or you can purchase the NHS Squeezy App for Men for a small fee which is a useful visual tool and exercise reminder
- Practice healthy bladder habits such as:
- Drink 1.5-2 litres of fluid a day (urine should be pale in colour).
- Avoid caffeine (i.e. tea, coffee and energy drinks).
- Avoid fizzy drinks.
- Avoid artificial sweeteners.
- Avoid constipation (see below).
- Aim for a healthy weight for your height (see NHS Fife Specialist weight management support.)
- Quit smoking (see NHS Fife Stop Smoking Service).
Bowel problems
Bowel problems have a significant impact on bladder symptoms, therefore it is important to address this also.
Bowel or anal incontinence is accidental leakage of faeces from the bowel, or difficulty in controlling wind.
Constipation is infrequent passage of stool (poo), with difficulty emptying, straining, or the passage of hard, lumpy stools.
We have a section on bowel problems with useful information to address these concerns.
Sexual problems
Erectile dysfunction is not being able to gain or maintain an erection. Premature ejaculation is ejaculation during sexual activity sooner than you or your partner would like. There is a lot of evidence to suggest that pelvic floor exercises can help with sexual problems. Try the advice in the Pelvic Floor Exercises section for help with finding your pelvic floor muscles and getting started with the exercises.
Pelvic pain
Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome, Chronic Prostatitis or Chronic Urogenital Pain Syndrome are all terms used to describe male pelvic pain. The pain can be felt in the low back, buttocks, coccyx (tailbone), hip, groin, abdomen, penis or scrotum. Once muscles and nerves in the pelvis start behaving abnormally, other organs can develop problems too. You may also have a problem with your bladder, bowel or sexual function. Chronic pain can lead to social withdrawal, loss of self-esteem, behavioural or emotional changes, anxiety or depression.
What can I do about it?
- It is important that you learn how to manage your pain.
- The Pain Toolkit is a really useful and easy to read booklet.
- Read this blog and watch the video about Male Pelvic Pain.
- The Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia has lots of useful information about the causes of male pelvic pain, how to relax you pelvic floor muscles and self-help strategies.
- Read the NHS Fife leaflet on Overactive Pelvic Floor Muscles.
