OAB is a condition that can affect the quality of life in a person in many ways. Even though we typically speak of it in the women’s health arena, men can suffer from OAB too, and the effects can be just as serious. In this article, we’ll discuss what men suffer from overactive bladder, what its symptoms look like, how it affects your life and what treatments are offered.
Understanding Overactive Bladder
Overactive bladder is a condition where you need to urinate very often, and it will eventually lead to incontinence. It isn’t a disease, it’s a syndrome that can arise from several other causes. Despite its distressing intensity, the urgency experienced by those with OAB can sometimes be so profound that urine may leak without consent, resulting in shame and compromising social functioning, self-esteem and well-being.
According to the Urology Care Foundation, 30 per cent of men over 65 experience symptoms associated with OAB (although it can also occur in younger men).
Why Does OAB Occur in Men?
Overactive bladder in men can have several causes:
1. Age-Related Changes
Men experience several alterations in their biology that can affect bladder health and function. The biggest change is how contractile the bladder muscle becomes, and how hyperactivated it can become with age. This high level of activity can make the bladder feel overburdened when it contains just small amounts of urine. Additionally, hormonal disturbances, specifically lower testosterone levels, can also alter bladder control and lead to urinary problems. These aging changes generally lead to an increase in the frequency of OAB symptoms when men reach old age.
2. Prostate Issues
This is because the prostate gland, located around the urethra, is involved in the flow of the urine. Diseases of the prostate, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), are extremely common in older men and may significantly impair bladder function. With BPH, your prostate will grow larger, making it hard to empty the urine and causing urinary urgency. This condition can cause not only discomfort but can contribute to the overactive bladder by disrupting the normal urination and storage routines.
3. Neurological Conditions
Neurological disease can have a major impact on the kidneys because they interfere with communication between the bladder and the brain. In Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injuries, the signals that manage emptying and filling the bladder become dysfunctional. This disruption can take the form of a desperate urge to urinate, an inability to store urine or bladder incontinence. In men who suffer from these sorts of neurological disorders, the risk of OAB is greatly enhanced.
4. Bladder Inflammation or Infection
Acute diseases, like cystitis (bladder inflammation) and UTIs, irritate the skin of the bladder, and it prompts frequent and intense urination. Although UTIs are more likely to occur in women, men are also vulnerable, especially when they are older or have chronic conditions. Irritation due to inflammation or infection can lead to the development or worsening of OAB symptoms and it is important to recognize these conditions as quickly as possible.
5. Lifestyle Factors
Lifestyle choices can play a huge role in OAB formation and progression. Diet, exercise, and even individual habits contribute to the mix. Certain foods and beverages — caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods — can irritate the bladder and make you feel anxious and in pain. A third contributing factor is obesity: if you are overweight, then there’s more abdominal pressure on the bladder, resulting in greater urgency. In men, changing your lifestyle habits can potentially reduce the symptoms of OAB.
Symptoms of Overactive Bladder
Men who have a large bladder can develop the following symptoms:
Urgency: A high-pitched, intense urination which might be hard to delay.
Frequency: Having to urinate over eight times during a 24-hour period.
Nocturia: Nightly puking, which makes it hard to sleep.
Incontinence: Unwanted leaking of urine following a sudden need.
These symptoms are not all equally severe, nor are they necessarily seen in all OAB patients. For others, the disorder is a minor nuisance; for others, it seriously compromises daily functioning and mental health.
The Effect on Quality of Life
An overactive bladder affects the quality of a man’s life in negative ways. The unrelenting desire to get a restroom will only increase anxiety and social stress, as well as disrupt both personal and professional life. Nocturia can also contribute to sleep deprivation and reduced productivity.
Men might find social interactions changed, such that they withdraw from activity or eschew situations where there’s not enough access to the bathroom. This can even have psychological consequences, resulting in loneliness or depression.
Treatment Options for Overactive Bladder
Fortunately, men with overactive bladder can find a wide variety of treatment options. How to go about it depends on the underlying issue and how severe the symptoms are.
1. Lifestyle Modifications
Living a different lifestyle can greatly influence OAB symptoms. Some strategies include:
Lifestyle Changes: Drinking less caffeine and alcohol and avoiding bladder irritants can mitigate symptoms.
Bladder Training: Consistently training the bladder to hold more urea by increasing the time between urinations.
Weight Loss: Losing weight can ease the bladder pressure on the abdomen and alleviate symptoms.
2. Pelvic Floor Exercises
Kegel exercises, which tighten the pelvic floor muscles, can also help bladder control. These are exercises not only for women, but also for men with OAB symptoms.
3. Medications
Anticholinergic medications are widely used to treat OAB. These drugs relax the bladder muscle and lessen the sensation of urgency. In rare cases, beta-3 agonists may be used to calm down the bladder and make it larger.
4. Physical Therapy
For men, pelvic floor physical therapy might be beneficial if the symptoms involved are pelvic floor dysfunction.
5. Advanced Treatments
If symptomatic relief is needed, nerve stimulation therapy (interstim therapy) or Botox injections into the bladder can be offered to reduce symptoms in cases where conventional therapies don’t work.
6. Surgery
In exceptional cases, invasive measures may be taken to expand the bladder or to relieve obstruction.
Conclusion: Overactive Bladder In Men: Why It Happens And How To Treat It
Overactive bladder is a very common, but rarely talked about condition that has profound consequences on one’s daily routine. By learning the causes, recognising symptoms and pursuing treatment, people can be empowered to take control of their disorder. If you or someone you know is having OAB-related symptoms, talk to a medical professional about what might be best for you and your situation. OAB treatments increase urinary health and your life in general which enhances your overall health and sense of well-being.
