Male Incontinence Definitions (A–Z)

A

Absorbency Levels — Absorbency levels describe how much liquid a product can hold, ranging from light protection for small drips to maximum or overnight absorbency for heavier leakage.
Absorbent Products — Absorbent products include pads, guards, briefs, and diapers designed to capture urine leaks discreetly. They help men stay dry, confident, and active throughout the day.
Adult Diapers — Adult diapers are high‑absorbency products with adjustable side tabs, ideal for heavier leakage or overnight protection.
Alpha‑Blockers — Alpha‑blockers are medications that relax the prostate and bladder neck muscles to improve urine flow, often used for prostate enlargement.
Artificial Urinary Sphincter — An artificial urinary sphincter is a surgically implanted device that restores bladder control for men with severe incontinence.

B

Bed Pads — Bed pads are absorbent, waterproof layers placed on bedding or furniture to protect against nighttime or seated leaks.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia — Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a non‑cancerous enlargement of the prostate that can cause urinary symptoms like urgency, frequency, or weak stream.
Biofeedback Therapy — Biofeedback therapy uses sensors and visual cues to help men strengthen pelvic floor muscles and improve bladder control.
Bladder Diary — A bladder diary is a daily log where men record bathroom trips, fluid intake, leakage episodes, and urgency levels. It helps identify patterns and guides treatment decisions.
Bladder Irritants — Bladder irritants are foods and drinks such as caffeine, alcohol, citrus, and artificial sweeteners that can worsen urgency or frequency.
Bladder Leakage — Bladder leakage refers to any unintentional release of urine, from a few drops to larger amounts.
Bladder Scan — A bladder scan is a quick ultrasound that measures how much urine remains after urinating.
Bladder Training — Bladder training teaches the bladder to hold urine longer by gradually increasing the time between bathroom visits.
Booster Pads — Booster pads are thin inserts that increase the absorbency of briefs or diapers.

C

Catheterization — Catheterization involves using a thin tube to drain urine from the bladder when it cannot empty fully.
Continence — Continence refers to the ability to control bladder function; the opposite of incontinence.
Cystoscopy — Cystoscopy is a procedure where a small camera is inserted through the urethra to examine the bladder and urinary tract.

D

Discreet Protection — Discreet protection refers to products designed to manage leaks without being noticeable under clothing.
Double Voiding — Double voiding is a technique where a man urinates, waits briefly, and tries again to help fully empty the bladder.
Dribbling — Dribbling is the small, unintended release of urine, often occurring after urination.
Drip Collectors — Drip collectors are small, pouch‑style products worn over the penis to catch very light leakage or drips.

E

Electrical Stimulation — Electrical stimulation uses mild electrical pulses to strengthen pelvic floor muscles and improve bladder control.
Enuresis — Enuresis is involuntary urination during sleep, commonly known as adult bedwetting.
External Catheter — An external catheter is a condom‑style device that channels urine into a collection bag without internal insertion.

F

Fluid Management — Fluid management involves adjusting when and how much a person drinks to reduce urgency or nighttime trips while staying hydrated.
Frequency–Volume Chart — A frequency–volume chart is a structured bladder diary that tracks exact urine amounts to help diagnose bladder issues.
Functional Incontinence — Functional incontinence occurs when a man has normal bladder function but cannot reach the bathroom in time due to mobility or cognitive challenges.

G

Guards For Men — Guards for men are absorbent pads shaped specifically for the male anatomy, designed for light to moderate leakage.

H

Heavy Leaks — Heavy leaks involve significant or frequent urine loss that may occur during activity, at rest, or overnight, often requiring high‑absorbency briefs or adult diapers.
Hesitancy — Hesitancy is difficulty starting the flow of urine, often caused by prostate enlargement or muscle tension.
Hydration Balance — Hydration balance means drinking enough to stay healthy without overloading the bladder.

I

Incontinence‑Associated Dermatitis — Incontinence‑associated dermatitis is skin irritation caused by prolonged exposure to moisture from urine.
Indwelling Catheter — An indwelling catheter stays in place continuously to drain urine into a collection bag.
Incontinence Briefs — Incontinence briefs are pull‑up style absorbent underwear that look like regular underwear but provide reliable protection for moderate to heavy leakage.
Incontinence Pads — Incontinence pads are disposable inserts worn inside underwear to absorb light to moderate leaks.
Intermittent Catheter — An intermittent catheter is inserted only when needed to empty the bladder.
Irritation (Skin) — Skin irritation occurs when moisture from urine stays on the skin too long, causing redness or discomfort.

K

Kegel Exercises — Kegel exercises strengthen the pelvic floor muscles that support the bladder and control urine flow.

L

Leak‑Proof Clothing — Leak‑proof clothing includes underwear or apparel with built‑in absorbent or waterproof layers.
Light Leaks — Light leaks refer to small, occasional drips or minor moisture, often caused by post‑void dribbling or mild stress incontinence.
Lifestyle Modifications — Lifestyle modifications such as reducing caffeine, losing weight, or quitting smoking can significantly improve bladder control.

M

Male External Catheter — A male external catheter is a non‑invasive device worn over the penis to collect urine into a drainage bag.
Male Incontinence — Male incontinence refers to any involuntary urine leakage experienced by men, often related to prostate changes, pelvic floor weakness, or bladder overactivity.
Mixed Incontinence — Mixed incontinence combines two or more types of leakage, most commonly stress and urgency incontinence.
Moderate Leaks — Moderate leaks involve more noticeable urine loss that may require changing underwear or clothing if unprotected.
Moisture Barrier Cream — Moisture barrier creams protect the skin from irritation by creating a shield between the skin and urine.

N

Nerve Damage — Nerve damage affecting bladder control can occur after prostate surgery, diabetes, or injury.
Nocturia — Nocturia is waking up multiple times at night to urinate.
Nocturnal Polyuria — Nocturnal polyuria is producing an unusually large amount of urine at night, contributing to nighttime bathroom trips.

O

Odor Control — Odor control refers to products or techniques that neutralize urine smell.
Outlet Obstruction — Outlet obstruction is a blockage or narrowing of the urethra that makes urination difficult and can cause overflow leakage.
Overflow Incontinence — Overflow incontinence happens when the bladder doesn’t empty fully, causing constant dribbling or small leaks.
Overactive Bladder — Overactive bladder causes sudden, strong urges to urinate, often leading to urgency incontinence or frequent bathroom trips.

P

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction — Pelvic floor dysfunction occurs when the pelvic muscles are weak or uncoordinated, reducing bladder support and leading to leakage.
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy — Pelvic floor physical therapy uses targeted exercises and techniques to strengthen the muscles that control urination.
Pelvic Floor Muscles — Pelvic floor muscles support the bladder and urethra; when strong, they help maintain continence.
Pelvic Organ Support — Pelvic organ support refers to the structural support provided by pelvic muscles and tissues that help maintain bladder control.
Penile Clamps — Penile clamps apply gentle pressure to the urethra to prevent leakage and are typically used under medical guidance.
Post‑Void Dribbling — Post‑void dribbling is leakage that occurs right after urinating, often due to weak pelvic muscles or urine trapped in the urethra.
Prostate Enlargement — Prostate enlargement narrows the urethra and disrupts urine flow, causing symptoms like urgency, frequency, and leakage.
Prostatectomy — Prostatectomy is the surgical removal of the prostate, often resulting in temporary or long‑term urinary incontinence.
Prostatitis — Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate that can cause pain, urgency, and urinary difficulty.
Protective underwear — Protective underwear looks like regular briefs but includes built‑in absorbency for reliable, discreet leak protection.

Q

Quality Of Life Impact — The quality of life impact refers to how incontinence affects daily routines, confidence, relationships, and emotional well‑being.

R

Radical Prostatectomy — Radical prostatectomy removes the entire prostate gland, often for cancer treatment, and can significantly affect urinary control.
Residual Urine — Residual urine is the amount of urine left in the bladder after urinating, often measured during a bladder scan.
Retention (Urinary) — Urinary retention is the inability to fully empty the bladder, leading to discomfort and overflow leakage.

S

Skin Barrier Cream — Skin barrier creams protect sensitive skin from moisture and irritation.
Sling Surgery — Sling surgery places supportive material under the urethra to improve bladder control in men with stress incontinence.
Spasm (Bladder Spasm) — A bladder spasm is a sudden, involuntary contraction of the bladder muscle that can cause urgency or leakage.
Sphincter Weakness — Sphincter weakness reduces the ability of the urinary sphincter to stay closed, leading to leakage.
Stress Incontinence — Stress incontinence occurs when physical movement or pressure — like coughing or lifting — causes urine to leak.

T

Timed Voiding — Timed voiding involves urinating on a set schedule to prevent accidents and retrain bladder habits.
Transurethral Procedures — Transurethral procedures are treatments performed through the urethra to improve urinary flow or reduce prostate obstruction.

U

Urethral Sphincter — The urethral sphincter is the muscle that opens and closes to control urine flow.
Urgency Incontinence — Urgency incontinence happens when a sudden, intense urge to urinate leads to leakage before reaching the bathroom.
Urge Suppression Techniques — Urge suppression techniques are behavioral strategies that help men delay urination and reduce urgency episodes.
Urinary Frequency — Urinary frequency means needing to urinate more often than usual.
Urinary Hesitancy — Urinary hesitancy is difficulty starting urination.
Urinary Incontinence — Urinary incontinence is the involuntary leakage of urine, ranging from occasional drips to full loss of bladder control.
Urinary Retention — Urinary retention occurs when the bladder cannot empty fully, leading to discomfort and overflow leakage.
Urinary Tract Infection — A urinary tract infection can cause burning, urgency, and leakage due to inflammation of the urinary system.
Urodynamic Testing — Urodynamic testing measures bladder pressure, flow, and function to diagnose urinary symptoms.
Urologist — A urologist is a doctor specializing in urinary and male reproductive health.

V

Void — To void means to urinate or empty the bladder.
Voiding Diary — A voiding diary tracks urination patterns, fluid intake, and leakage episodes to help diagnose symptoms.

W

Waterproof Mattress Protector — A waterproof mattress protector shields bedding from leaks, offering peace of mind during sleep.
Weak Urine Stream — A weak urine stream is reduced force during urination, often caused by prostate enlargement or urethral narrowing.
Wicking Layer — A wicking layer is the top layer of absorbent products that pulls moisture away from the skin to keep the wearer dry.