Question: How is overactive bladder treated in men? Most medications have not helped me, but I have to get up to use the bathroom a lot during the night.
Dr. Hibberd's answer:
Incontinence and frequent urination is far more common in women than men, largely because their pelvic muscles weaken and stretch, especially after childbirth as they age. Anticholinergic drugs like Ditropan are used to control bladder control in women but rarely in men, since the causes are different between the sexes.
Male incontinence and frequent urination, particularly at night, are usually caused by prostate enlargement in men — known as BPH, prostate enlargement — or infection. Prostate enlargement is easily detected by a rectal examination and is often associated with an elevated PSA. It is important that you be examined to be sure no prostate infection is present, as antibiotics will be needed, sometimes for weeks at a time to clear infections of the prostate gland.
Delayed antibiotic use in prostatitis can turn an acute infection that is effectively managed by a short course of antibiotics into a chronic prostatitis that is far more difficult to resolve. The tip here is to seek professional guidance without delay. Men with prostate problems and frequent nighttime urination often respond well to alpha-adrenergic blockers and/or 5-alpha-reductaseinhibitors.
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