Male Urinary Problems and the Use of Catheters

Bladder problems are common but highly treatable. The most common causes of male urinary problems include age, enlarged prostate gland, diabetes, cancer treatment, interstitial cystitis, medications such as antidepressants, and certain health conditions. In some cases, they are caused by spina bifida, injured bladder nerves, and spinal cord injury. Healthcare providers sometimes advise people with urinary problems to use catheters. A urinary catheter is a latex, silicone, or polythurene tube placed in the body to drain urine from the bladder. They are recommended for people with urinary incontinence, urinary retention, and medical conditions like dementia and multiple acrostics. They are also used by many ICU patients who are too sick to use a bedpan.

The three main types of catheters are indwelling catheters, external catheters, and short-term catheters. Indwelling catheters, also known as Foley catheters, are inserted into the bladder through the urethra. They stay in for a longer period of time and are perfect for people with urine-controlling issues, enlarged prostate, and other male urinary problems. External catheters, also known as condom catheters, are applied over a penis and are connected to a drainage bag. People with severe mental disabilities are advised to use external catheters. Short-term catheters, also known as intermittent catheters, stay in for one to two days. They are also called in-and-out catheters, as people need them for a short period of time after surgery to empty their bladder.

Catheters are invasive medical devices that can cause bladder stones, kidney damage, and septicemia. They can sometimes allow bacteria to enter your body. Wearing a catheter makes you feel like your bladder is full – all the time. People also experience discomfort and pain, which can be relieved by ensuring that they remain free of tangles. Getting back to routine after getting a catheter removed can take a few days. The urethra takes 14 to 21 days to heal after a catheter. You should consider getting MUDS if you are looking for a non-invasive alternative to a catheter. It is perfect for people with various male urinary problems, including urinary incontinence, generalized weakness, and urinary retention. The unit is attached to the bedrail, which prevents infection and other complications. Unlike Foley catheters and urinals, MUDS can hold 2500ml worth of output. With MUDS, the risk associated with injury, infection, fluid overload, and impaired skin integrity is considerably low. People who are on the lookout for a safe urinary drainage system shouldn’t think before getting MUDS.

Causes of Male Frequent Urination

Male frequent urination is a fairly common problem, especially in seniors. While there are several possible reasons for this problem, such as urinary tract infections, diabetes, or kidney stones, the most common cause of frequent urination in men is overactive bladder (OAB). Not only does this lead to frequent visits to the loo, but it can also cause urine leakage, incontinence, and a persistent urge to urinate. If you’re having any of these problems, you should visit your doctor for a timely checkup to find out what’s causing this problem. But before you do that, you should not that frequent urination is often simply a result of drinking excessive fluids (more than the recommended daily amount, 1.5 liters).

Several factors can easily influence male frequent urination. For instance, an injury following an accident could have affected your kidneys or bladder. Sometimes, it’s due to poor bathroom habits, such as not emptying your bladder when you’re in a rush or visiting the bathroom just in case. The frequent urination could be an alarm for a disease or growing infections. Or, your problem might simply be a result of certain treatments in which you take drugs or beverages that increase urine production. Other diseases that cause male frequent urination include bladder stones, diuretics, prostatitis, kidney infection, intestinal cystitis, or urinary tract infection.

Fortunately, there are many ways to treat male frequent urination that don’t generally require a visit to the doctor’s office. However, some treatments can require you to make some lifestyle changes. The first step to countering frequent urination is to stop drinking fluids before bed, especially drinks with caffeine, alcohol, or artificial sweeteners. If you don’t have any health issues, you can start pelvic floor exercises to strengthen your core muscles. Lastly, you can also undergo bladder retraining by peeing at fixed times and gradually increasing the intervals. However, if you’re experiencing other symptoms, such as abdominal pain, fever, bloody urine, nausea, or pain after peeing, you’ll want to immediately see your doctor as soon as possible. They can find the root cause behind your frequent urination and prescribe the right medicine to help. During diagnoses, doctors generally ask about medications, symptoms, urine frequency, and fluid intake. They will then perform a microscopic urine exam called urinalysis to test for compounds. Other tests include cystometry, cystoscopy, ultrasonography, or neurological tests.