Addressing the gender gap in urinary continence care.

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Men's Health
• Healthcare Disparities

Background:

• Urinary incontinence (UI) is prevalent in both genders, with significant negative impacts.
• While UI is more common in younger women, prevalence equalizes with age, affecting one-in-three older men.
• Existing best practice guidance for UI predominantly addresses female populations, neglecting male-specific needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the gender gap in urinary incontinence (UI) care, particularly for men.
• To identify barriers men face in accessing healthcare for incontinence.
• To provide guidance for healthcare professionals on managing male UI.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on male urinary incontinence prevalence and management.
• Analysis of gender-specific healthcare access barriers for incontinence care.
• Examination of educational deficits in symptom identification, assessment, and management for male UI.

Main Results:

• There is a notable lack of best practice guidelines for male urinary incontinence compared to female UI.
• Healthcare professionals often overlook or are unaware of barriers men face in seeking incontinence care.
• Inadequate education exists regarding the identification, assessment, and management of male UI symptoms.

Conclusions:

• Significant gender disparities exist in the recognition and management of urinary incontinence.
• Addressing men's unique healthcare access barriers and improving professional education are essential for equitable UI care.
• Manufacturers also require guidance on providing appropriate continence management equipment for men.