Wanting to be inclusive, this follows last Saturday’s post about women’s incontinence and the New Guidelines for dealing with it. Interestingly, a current TV ad features a group of women mapping out where bathrooms are located, before presumably going out shopping–or for lunch. Then of course we hear about the product that will make that kind of planning unnecessary.

But what about men?

Although the high rise of incontinence is in women 75 and over, and the rise is less dramatic in men, incontinence–usually temporary (3-6 months)–is common following prostate surgery. Also as men age the sphincter muscle that controls urine outflow can weaken due to more and more years of use. Doctors recommend Kegel exercises for men (with varying degrees of success depending on different factors). I’ve selected informational links from what I consider reputable sources like Mayo Clinic, as this post is intended to provide some background information before speaking with a doctor if there are issues. It should not be construed as giving medical advice, however.

Links:
—Mayo Clinic has instructions for doing Kegel exercises: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/mens-health/in-depth/kegel-exercises-for-men/art-20045074
—Webmd weighs in: http://www.webmd.com/urinary-incontinence-oab/kegel-exercises-treating-male-urinary-incontinence
—The NY Times blog also (July 2014)–Here it’s necessary to read to the end of the article to avoid missing important information: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/07/14/ pelvic-exercises-for-men-too/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

As we get older and dine out with friends, it’s not unusual to have men get up from the table to use the bathroom. It’s a part of aging. Enlarged prostate as well as prostate cancer become problematic for many older men. That’s why PSA monitoring is important– may be the equivalent of mammograms for women.

Everyone of a certain age (boomers and older) must know men who have had surgery for prostate cancer. Whether using the DaVinci method or the traditional method, there will be some degree of incontinence for a limited time. An acquaintance is living with the same incontinence situation (following successful prostate surgery for cancer) as the person in Harvard’s Health publication–Prostate Knowledge. He is currently debating the surgery, as was the man in this very good article http://www.harvardprostateknowledge.org/a-patients-story-overcoming-incontinence#, an important read for any man contemplating prostate surgery or dealing with incontinence.

Included–as always–in the current US News‘ 2014-2015 survey are the best urology departments in the US. The top 4 (all scoring at least 91.2 to /100) are: Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic-Rochester, Johns Hopkins and UCLA Medical Center respectively. This does not mean they have the best urologists for men’s incontinence; but it does mean these hospitals have excellent departments, if needed. Click for the list. 

We try to help parents age well. While incontinence is bothersome and embarrassing and isn’t usually an ordinary topic of conversation, understandings about it may prove helpful for many.

Related: Johns Hopkins yearly “Prostate Cancer “Discovery” 2015 issue, plus site with yearly back issues.

Note: “Newsworthy” (right sidebar). Links to timely information from outstanding research institutions–and some fun stuff–to help parents age well.