Urinary incontinence in men: what the practice nurse needs to know

Urinary incontinence is a common condition mainly associated with women, with a ratio of nearly 2:1 (approximately 55% of women are estimated to experience incontinence) (Helfand el al, 2018). This prevalence in females is due to their numerous risk factors, especially associated with childbirth (Yates, 2017). However, urinary incontinence affects both sexes and can have a severe negative impact on quality of life (Nursing Times, 2019). Health professionals are aware that in general women's health outcomes in the UK are usually poorer than men's (Winchester, 2021); however, this does not seem to be the case for male urinary incontinence (Lancet, 2019). The above statistics have led to disparity in continence care for men, leading to most male continence needs being unmet or neglected by professionals (Stenzelius, 2005; Nursing Times, 2019; Yates, 2021). This article will identify how male urinary incontinence care can be improved by looking at the prevalence of the condition, identifying risk factors associated with male urinary incontinence, looking at the skills health professionals require to adequately assess male patients and covering the treatment and management options available.