Does benign prostatic hyperplasia cause urinary incontinence?

An enlarged prostate can narrow the tube that carries urine out of the bladder. The bladder may then work harder, become overactive, or remain partly full, each of which can lead to leaking.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate. It may cause a weak stream, hesitancy, frequent urination, urgency, waking to pass urine, or a feeling that the bladder has not emptied. Leakage may happen when a sudden urge is difficult to hold, or when a very full bladder dribbles because it cannot empty well.

Urinary leakage also has other possible causes, including medicines, infection, constipation, neurological problems, and bladder conditions. A clinical assessment can help identify the pattern rather than assuming one explanation.

Arrange a routine appointment if leakage, urgency, or changes in your stream are bothering you. Bring a note of when leakage occurs, how often you pass urine, fluids you drink, and every medicine or supplement you use. This helps the clinician distinguish urgency leakage from overflow leakage and decide whether urine testing, an examination, or further bladder assessment is appropriate.

Until then, avoid deliberately restricting fluids to the point of thirst. Reducing drinks that seem to aggravate urgency, planning toilet access, and treating constipation can be useful for some people. Do not stop prescribed medicine without discussing it with the prescriber.

Seek urgent medical care if you cannot pass urine, develop severe lower abdominal pain or swelling, see blood in the urine, or have fever or chills with urinary symptoms. These symptoms need timely assessment because they can reflect retention, infection, or another problem requiring treatment.

Contact a clinician promptly for a new, marked change in bladder control, pain when passing urine, or leakage that is disrupting sleep or daily activities.

Ask which leakage pattern you have, whether your bladder is emptying fully, and whether any current medicine could be contributing. You can also ask what treatment options target prostate-related obstruction and which changes would mean you should seek care sooner.