Urinary Incontinence in Men
When To Call a Doctor
See your doctor immediately if your urinary incontinence does not go away or is accompanied by:
- Weakness or numbness in your buttocks, legs, and feet.
- Fever, chills, and abdominal (belly) or Reference flank pain Opens New Window.
- Blood in your urine or burning with urination.
- A change in your bowel habits.
Call your doctor if:
- You have a problem with urinary incontinence that is getting worse.
- Uncontrolled loss of urine is enough of a problem that you need to wear an absorbent pad.
- Incontinence interferes with your life in any way.
Do not be embarrassed to discuss incontinence with your doctor. Incontinence is not an inevitable result of aging. Most people with incontinence can be helped or cured.
If you have a sudden change in your ability to urinate and you are not sure if it is related to your urinary incontinence, see the topic Reference Urinary Problems and Injuries, Age 12 and Older.
Watchful waiting
If you have chronic urinary incontinence that begins slowly, you may be able to control the problem yourself. If home treatment does not control your problem, or if incontinence interferes with your lifestyle, ask your doctor to recommend a treatment.
If you have urinary incontinence that begins suddenly (acute), call your doctor. Acute incontinence is often caused by urinary tract problems or medicines and can be easily corrected.
Who to see
Any of the following health professionals can diagnose and treat urinary incontinence:
- Reference Family medicine doctor Opens New Window
- Reference Internal medicine doctor Opens New Window
- Reference Physician assistant Opens New Window
- Reference Nurse practitioner Opens New Window
- Reference Urologist Opens New Window
- Reference Geriatrician Opens New Window
If you need surgery to treat your incontinence, it is important to find a surgeon who is experienced in the type of surgery you need, usually a urologist.
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Reference Making the Most of Your Appointment.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference July 17, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Reference Avery L. Seifert, MD - Urology |
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This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Reference Terms of Use. Reference How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
