The commonest cause of male urinary incontinence is radical prostatectomy for the treatment of prostate cancer. In the vast majority of cases, the involuntary leakage is temporary and minor. However, a proportion of men will continue to have significant leakage of urine in the longer term, impacting on their quality of life. Fortunately, there are highly effective treatment options which include insertion of an artificial urinary sphincter, or a synthetic male sling.
Synthetic male slings are generally recommended for men with mild to moderate degrees of incontinence and there are various types available. Slings are surgically placed under the urethra via a small incision in the perineum (the area of skin between the scrotum and anus). The sling is designed to pull up on the urethra and help the sphincter muscle close more effectively.
Advantages of the male sling include: insertion requires a minor surgical procedure (performed usually as an overnight stay) and that the patient is not required to operate it for the sling to function (unlike the artificial urinary sphincter). The AdVance™ sling is an example that has been in use in Australia for nearly ten years, and A/Prof Moon has published the longest follow-up of any Australian series in 2018 confirming high success rates and low complication rates in men with mild to moderate incontinence after prostatectomy.
For a consultation with one of our urologists please call 03 8506 3600 to make an appointment.
