International Men’s Health Week (IMHW) is an opportunity for communities around the world to focus on the importance of men’s physical, mental and emotional health, including the management of male incontinence.

IMHW allows a number of organisations and individuals to bring attention to the poor state of men's health, arrange activities that engage men, and lobby for improvements in health policy.

It is a powerful time to explore the role we each play in developing healthy environments at home, at work, and in our social life. It is designed to emphasise the significance of the health and well-being of men and boys in our communities.

Urinary incontinence is nearly half as common in males as it is in women, yet an estimated 11-34 per cent of older men live with the condition. And according to the Continence Foundation of Australia, an estimated 30 per cent of men who visit the doctor are affected by incontinence yet more than two thirds of them do not bring it up.

Men who live with incontinence have an increased rate of depression and are less likely to participate in social life, as it may feel easier, and safer to stay home. This issue may also put a strain on all work-related activities, forcing men to change their jobs or look for new ones.

Finally, incontinence may also affect their relationships as most men are uncomfortable discussing their health in general, let alone their incontinence, with their partners.

The causes of male incontinence vary but may include several conditions.

A chronic cough, constipation, obesity, and bladder or urinary tract infections often cause this. Other reasons include a weakened pelvic floor or bladder muscles, loss of strength in the sphincter, nerve damage, an enlarged prostate, prostate cancer, or neurological disorders. Lifestyle factors, such as smoking, drinking, or not being physically active, can also come into play.

Incontinence comes in many shapes and forms:

- Stress incontinence occurs during activities such as bending, lifting, or coughing, which can put pressure on the bladder.
- Urge incontinence is caused by the bladder contracting when it shouldn’t, often leading men to struggle to make it to the bathroom in time.
- Mixed incontinence is a combination of both stress and urge incontinence.
- Overflow incontinence happens when the bladder is unable to be completely emptied, leading to unexpected leaks. If you or a loved one has been experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s time to discuss incontinence management with your GP.  

The good news is that there are treatment options available to support men in their continence management. There’s no reason to experience incontinence alone, nor for it to hamper daily activities.
Let's have a look at a few ways of managing the symptoms of mens incontinence:*

1. Pelvic floor exercises - the first step is to identify your PC muscles. Your PC muscles are the ones that help you hold your urine in. After you've identified your PC muscles, you may begin flexing them. For 5 to 20 seconds, contract and hold your PC muscles and then release them. This easy exercise may be done 10 to 20 times in a row, three to four times each day.
2. Diet changes - it may be as simple as avoiding specific meals and beverages to treat your incontinence. Reduce your intake of alcohol and caffeine. Many specialists feel that these substances might irritate the bladder and worsen the symptoms of urinary incontinence.
3. Cardiovascular exercises for weight loss - extra weight, according to some experts, may increase abdominal pressure and aggravate urinary incontinence, so if you are overweight, strive to shed a few kilograms.
4. Urethral bulking agents - the injection of urethral bulking agents is a relatively non-invasive surgical therapy for stress incontinence.
5. Other surgical options - an artificial urinary sphincter device may be required for males with moderate to severe urinary leakage.
*Please keep in mind that this is not medical advice and that you should always speak with your doctor. Incontinence can be caused by many reasons, and each case should be thoroughly reviewed before commencing a pelvic floor muscle training programme, urethral bulking or any other type of surgery.

There are several absorbent products available for male incontinence, including male guards, pull-up pants, and adult nappies (slips).

Male guards have been designed specifically as a daily tool for male continence management. They are anatomically designed to fit discreetly and comfortably, with a secure cup that is suitable for active wearers.
They protect against light to moderate bladder leakage and can empower men to continue to live their lives fully with confidence when it counts.

Because of ConfidenceClub's dedication to top customer service, any man can order these high-quality, European-made continence items delivered discreetly to their home.