A Guide to Male Incontinence & the Best Incontinence Supplies for Men
Incontinence in men isn’t as common as it is in women, but that doesn’t make it any less of a challenge. In fact, for roughly 11% to 34% of men with urinary incontinence, effectively managing their condition can be an ongoing issue, especially as they age.
If you’re one of those men, you’re in the right place because this guide is designed for you, with more on:
- What Causes Male Incontinence?
- How to Deal with Male Incontinence at Night: 4 Tips
- 5 Best Incontinence Products for Men
- How to Get Male Incontinence Supplies for Men with Medicaid in WA, OR, and ID
This guide shares the essentials in under ~3 minutes, with key resources for anyone looking to get incontinence supplies for men through Medicaid.
While we invite you to bookmark this for future reference, we also welcome you to contact MyMedSupplies whenever it’s time for more information or expert support getting incontinence supplies for men via Medicaid in WA, OR, or ID.
MyMedSupplies is a trusted medical products supplier, with an excellent reputation for providing superior customer care and the highest-quality incontinence supplies.
What Causes Male Incontinence?
Male incontinence can result from medical conditions, lifestyle habits, and other factors. Some of the most common causes of male incontinence include:
- Prostate Problems: An enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH) or prostate surgery can impact bladder control. After prostate surgery, many men experience temporary or long-term urinary incontinence.
- Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): A UTI can cause temporary incontinence due to bladder irritation. The condition usually improves once the infection is treated.
- Diabetes: Diabetes can cause nerve damage, impacting bladder control and overflow incontinence in men.
- Neurological Conditions: Conditions like Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), and stroke can impair the body’s ability to control the bladder, causing male incontinence.
- Aging: As men age, their bladder muscles can weaken, resulting in stress and/or urge incontinence. This can lead to minor incontinence that causes leakage when coughing or sneezing. It can also progress to more severe incontinence that causes near-constant leakage.
- Obesity: Excess weight can intensify pressure on the bladder and pelvic muscles, increasing the risk of male incontinence.
Please be aware that many other health issues can contribute to incontinence in men and that many people experience male incontinence as a result of multiple factors, rather than a single one.
How to Deal with Male Incontinence at Night: 4 Tips
Nighttime incontinence for men is clinically referred to as “nocturnal enuresis.” While this can be particularly challenging for men, here are some simple, yet, powerful strategies for addressing the issue. Many men can effectively manage nighttime incontinence with some combination of the following tips.
1. Reduce Evening Fluid Intake.
- Don’t drink as much fluid later in the day, trying to minimize liquid intake in the hours before bedtime.
- Avoid caffeinated drinks and alcohol, both of which can irritate the bladder.
2. Plan Your Night-Time Bathroom Breaks.
- Before you get in bed to go to sleep, go to the bathroom first.
- Set at least one alarm for sometime in the middle of the night, so you can get up to go to the bathroom. If you’re living with more severe incontinence, consider setting two or more alarms for multiple nighttime bathroom breaks.
3. Protect Your Bed.
- Place an absorbent bed pad over your sheets before getting into bed every night. If your bed pads have adhesive on the backside, remove the adhesive strips to fix the bed pads to your sheets, so they don’t move around when you sleep.
- Use a waterproof sheet for additional mattress protection.
4. Wear Nighttime Adult Diapers for Men.
- Wear a high-absorbency adult diaper for men. Be sure to use nighttime or “overnight” adult diapers because these are designed to be extra absorbent.
- Resize your adult diapers for men if you start to experience excessive nighttime leakage.
For those living with male incontinence, the keys to more restful, worry-free sleep can be the right routine and reliable incontinence products made for nighttime use.
5 Best Incontinence Products for Men
There are several incontinence products for men on the market these days. That can be a double-edged sword, providing an array of options that may be overwhelming for some. To help you dial in the best incontinence supplies for men to fit your needs, here’s a concise rundown of the most popular options, when they tend to work best, and whether Medicaid covers them.
1. Male Guards
Designed to fit inside regular underwear, male guards are contoured pads that provide more absorbency in the front where men need it most.
- Incontinence Level: Light to moderate
- Ideal Uses: Mild leakage from stress or urge incontinence
- Medicaid Covered? Yes (with a prescription)
2. Men’s Incontinence Underwear
Also referred to as “pull-ups,” men’s incontinence underwear is a type of disposable undergarment that has built-in absorbance and can be pulled up and down like regular underwear.
- Incontinence Level: Moderate
- Ideal Uses: Active men who need protection during the day but want the convenience of pull-on underwear
- Medicaid Covered? Yes (with a prescription)
3. Adult Diapers for Men (Tab-Style Briefs)
Featuring side tabs or tapes, adult diapers for men can be preferable when more leakage is a concern or when protection is needed for extended periods of time.
- Incontinence Level: Moderate to severe
- Ideal Uses: Men with severe incontinence, those who require overnight protection, or individuals with limited dexterity
- Medicaid Covered? Yes (with a prescription)
4. Incontinence Booster Pads for Men
Booster pads are generally used with other incontinence products for men, with the booster pad going inside another item to enhance absorbency.
- Incontinence Level: Moderate to severe
- Ideal Uses: Heavy incontinence or nighttime use where extra protection is needed
- Medicaid Covered? Yes (with a prescription)
5. Absorbent Bed Pads
Designed to protect bedding and furniture from leakage, bed pads can be particularly helpful for men dealing with nighttime incontinence.
- Incontinence Level: Mild to severe
- Ideal Uses: Men with heavy nighttime leakage or those who prefer an extra layer of protection for their bed
- Medicaid Covered? Yes (with a prescription)
How to Get Male Incontinence Supplies for Men with Medicaid in WA, OR, and ID
Medicaid in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho covers incontinence supplies for when they have:
- Medicaid coverage: Like other health insurance, Medicaid coverage must be renewed annually.
- A diagnosed condition causing male incontinence: Medical records must confirm the presence of a health issue that’s contributing to bladder and/or bowel incontinence.
- A prescription: A doctor must write a prescription for the men’s incontinence supplies needed, specifying the type of products and the amounts required each month.
After that, you’ll need to work with a Medicaid-approved supplier, like MyMedSupplies, that can:
- Coordinate Medicaid approvals
- Discreetly ship your adult diapers for men and other supplies to your door
- Facilitate monthly reorders, so you always have what you need on hand.
A Better Way to Get Incontinence Supplies for Men with Medicaid in WA, OR & ID
The right products can make a world of difference in managing male incontinence and restoring invaluable confidence, control, and peace of mind.
Whether you’re living with light daytime leakage, a temporary health condition, or more severe incontinence, Medicaid in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho can cover the costs of adult diapers and incontinence products for men, opening up a steady supply of the best incontinence supplies at no cost.
So, when it’s time to get free incontinence supplies with Medicaid in Washington, Idaho, or Oregon, contact MyMedSupplies.
We have 40+ years’ experience in the medical supply and Medicaid space, and we’re accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Inc. (ACHC) to provide Durable Medical Equipment, Respiratory Services, and Medical Supplies.
We also prioritize customer care, doing everything possible to provide VIP service and reliable access to the best incontinence supplies for men. That’s why MyMedSupplies is among the most trusted medical supply stores in the Pacific Northwest.
For expert help getting free incontinence supplies through Medicaid, simply talk to a professional coordinator at MyMedSupplies. We are ready to help you now.