Male incontinence products: Find the right fit

Male urinary incontinence is more common than you may think. Approximately one in 20 men over the age of 18, and one in 10 men over the age of 60 have symptoms of urinary incontinence.** Whether it's just a few drops or bigger leakages, urinary incontinence can be very frustrating, stressful and negatively impact quality of life. It's worth taking seriously and discussing with your healthcare professional. There are many male incontinence products that can help you feel confident and secure in your daily life. In this article, we cover the basics of incontinence in men and look into different incontinence products for men that can help relieve your symptoms.

What is male urinary incontinence?

Involuntary urinary incontinence is the medical term for lack of bladder control, meaning you are leaking urine. There are different types of male urinary incontinence that we will cover below; however, each type of bladder control issue can be caused by different factors, diseases or physical challenges.

If you'd like to learn more about incontinence in men, read our guide.

What causes male incontinence?

There are many different causes of incontinence that can affect men of all ages. Some of the common reasons for urinary incontinence in men include:

Demographic factors - age, race/ethnicity, family history
Lifestyle - alcohol, diet, obesity, smoking, impaired physical function
Medical conditions - chronic cough, constipation, diabetes, heart failure, urinary tract infection
Neurologic conditions - dementia, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, stroke, sleep apnea, spinal cord injury
Certain medications
Prostate surgery
Enlargement of the prostate and/or prostate cancer.

What are the symptoms of male urinary incontinence?

The main symptom of male urinary incontinence is passing urine unintentionally. When and how this occurs depends on the type of urinary incontinence you may have.

Some of the situations may include:

Leaking urine during everyday activities (i.e. lifting items, exercising or coughing)
Being unable to hold in urine after a sudden urge to urinate
Wetting your bed during sleep

Always consult a healthcare professional with any concerns regarding the symptoms of urinary incontinence. Keeping track of your urinary habits with a bladder diary can help your healthcare professional determine the type of urinary incontinence and prescribe you the right male urinary incontinence products.

Male incontinence treatment

A healthcare professional can help you find the right treatment or incontinence products to help reduce, correct or control your symptoms.

There are a few treatment options to help relieve your symptoms. Some men are able to regain continence once they have a diagnosis and commence the recommended treatment plan.

However, it is also possible to manage incontinence by using incontinence products for men.

The right treatment and product solution depends on what type of urinary incontinence you are experiencing, as stress incontinence can require a different treatment from urge incontinence or overflow incontinence.

Male incontinence products

Male incontinence products - Conveen

Common incontinence products for men include absorbents, protective underwear, incontinence pads for men, sheaths and urine bags.

Male urinary incontinence is most often treated using male incontinence pads or adult diapers. However, if you're looking for alternative solutions that are less big and bulky, Coloplast's Conveen® Male External Catheter range may be for you. The Conveen range includes a wide variety of male external catheters (sometimes called condom catheters or urisheaths) and collecting bags (urine bags), and offers an alternative to diapers or absorbent products to help relieve the stress of urine leakage. Take a 2-minute assessment to find out what Conveen products may be a fit for your unique situation.

If you have questions or concerns and would like advice on what male incontinence devices might be best for you, please contact us at 1-800-231-2371.

This information is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice and should not be interpreted to contain treatment recommendations. Only a healthcare professional who knows your diagnosis and history can make a recommendation on the best male incontinence products for you.

1. Choose a male external catheter (MEC)

Worn over the penis
Available in a range of sizes to ensure secure fit

2. Choose a bag

Worn on the thigh or calf
Several sizes to chose from, depending on your individual needs

3. Customize your solution

MEC connects to a urine-collection bag
Urine is channeled into bag and contained discreetly and securely
Urine is emptied at your convenience

Find a custom combination

FAQs about Male External Catheters (MEC)

Are you having trouble finding the right size or understanding how to apply a male external catheter? Discover our FAQs and troubleshooting guide.

Q: My male external catheter falls off or does not stay on

A: If your MEC doesn't stay on, it could be caused by a few things. First, ensure that you are using the correct size MEC by downloading, printing and using our sizing guide. The wrong size can impact your experience with MECs, so it's important to find the right fit. Make sure you don't have extra material at the base of the penis. This could mean that the catheter is too long. You should make sure that the catheter fits securely to the shaft of your penis with no extra space or material. If it doesn't, it could also be that the circumference of the catheter is too large. Also, be sure to use a MEC made of 100% silicone.

Q: Can I use oil or cream based products on my penis before application?

A: No. These products may interfere with the adhesive of the MEC and could cause it to fall off. Instead, cleanse the penis with warm soap and water before applying the MEC. You should not apply any lanolin, oils, or cream-based products prior to MEC application.

Q: I use a latex MEC product. Why would I use an MEC made of another material?

A latex MEC may not adhere as properly as MECs made of different material. An MEC made of 100% silicone allows the skin to breathe, which may reduce skin moisture build-up making it easier for the MEC to stay on.

Q: What if the connector from my urine bag to my MEC causes leakage?

First, make sure that the connector is fully advanced into the tip of the catheter. If the connector is attached incorrectly, the tip of the catheter may twist and turn which may cause leakage. It may also cause the tip of the catheter to be pinched, which could mean urine is unable to drain in the leg bag and therefore "backflows" into the catheter, causing leakage.

Q: Why is the skin at the tip of my penis red?

Check to see that the penis is not placed too far into the reservoir section of the catheter. If the penis is advanced too far down, twisting and turning of the catheter tip could cause skin abrasion and possible exposure to the connector.

Troubleshooting Male External Catheters

Problem	Possible Issue	Suggestion	General Info
Male external catheter does not stay on	Improper sizing (circumference, length or both)	Use product-specific measuring to determine proper fit • Circumference – determine correct mm size • Length – determine correct length (standard or sport)	Improper fit (length or circumference) can interfere with proper catheter application. • Length too long: Excess material sitting at the base of the penis may cause retraction issues, and daily movement may cause the catheter to roll off • Circumference too large: Excess material may leave wrinkles, allowing urine to leak back up shaft and loosen adhesive
Male external catheter does not stay on	Use of lanolin, oil or cream-based products	Do not apply any lanolin, oils or cream-based products to the genital area	Oils, creams and lotions can interfere with the adhesive properties and result in the catheter falling off.
Male external catheter does not stay on	Latex MEC product	Use MEC made of 100% silicone	100% silicone allows the skin to breathe, which may reduce skin moisture build-up, resulting in optimal contact and performance.
Catheter has wrinkles	Improper sizing (circumference)	Use measuring guide to determine proper “circumference” fit	The recommendation is to adjust the size.
Catheter/catheter tip torques	Connector not fully advanced into catheter tip	Ensure that urine collection tubing/connector is fully advanced into the catheter tip	Incomplete advancement of the connector into the catheter tip allows twisting and turning of the catheter tip. This can potentially cause urine backflow and may result in disconnection and accidental urine leakage.

Skin Issues

Problem	Possible Issue	Suggestion	General Info
Skin at tip of penis is red	Penis advanced too far into the reservoir of catheter	Review application diagram of proper placement of penis within catheter	Penis placed too far into reservoir section of catheter leaves it open to possible abrasion from the twisting and turning of the tip of the catheter and possible exposure to the connector.
Skin at tip of penis is red	Improper application	Ensure that the penis is properly placed within the catheter: • Never too far down into the reservoir • Never too far up, leaving a lot of excess (floppy) catheter material at tip of penis	Improper application may result in the penis coming too close to the connector within the catheter tip.
Skin on shaft of penis is red	Allergic reaction	Individuals with allergies may prefer to apply a skin barrier product to the skin prior to application of the MEC	A barrier offers a shield to prevent the adhesive from actually touching the skin.
Skin on shaft of penis is red	Improper sizing	Use measuring guide to determine proper fit: • Circumference – determine correct mm size • Length – determine correct length (standard or sport)	Catheters that are not properly sized can lead to skin issues: • Too small: skin is being constricted, lack of blood flow • Circumference too large: Excess material may leave wrinkles, allowing urine to leak back up the shaft and loosen adhesive • Too long: Urine can pool at the tip of the catheter, allowing urine to leak back up the shaft and irritate the skin

Applying the male external catheter*

*Please follow the Instructions for Use that came with your product.

	Always measure for correct size (both circumference and length with appropriate measuring guide for specific product)
	Flip open the pack using your thumb nail to break the seal.
	Remove the catheter from the package and place it over the head of the penis. Leave a small space between the end of the penis and the narrow catheter outlet. Uncircumcised users should leave the foreskin in place over the head of the penis.
	Pull the double grip strip to slowly unroll the catheter all the way up the length of the penis. The catheter should unroll smoothly and evenly.
	Gently squeeze the catheter around the shaft of the penis (approx. 1 min.) to ensure a secure fit. To reduce the risk of skin irritation, allow the skin on the penis to breathe for short periods in between male external catheter changes.

Connecting the Urine Bag

Connect a urine collecting bag to the catheter by fully inserting the tubing connector into the external catheter outlet. Push together firmly for a secure connection.

Removing the male external catheter

Removal is easy and painless. The catheter can be removed by detaching the catheter from the urine bag connector and carefully rolling it off the penis. If you need to, use warm soapy water to help remove the catheter. It can then be disposed of in the trash, with general household waste. Finish by washing your hands. Change the male external catheter every day and change the bag according to recommendations from your healthcare professional.

If you’d like to learn more about the application of male incontinence products, consult our user guides.

Our recommended products

Discreet alternative to diapers and pads

Prior to use, refer to product labeling for complete product instructions for use, contraindications, warnings and precautions.

*Limitations apply.

**Chapter 35 "Urinary Incontinence" Wooldridge in Core Curriculum of Urologic Nursing, 1st Edition, p 467: "In men, there is a steady increase of UI across the lifespan, with a peak around the ages of 55 to 64 years; highest prevalence is in men 75 years or older. 4.8% in ages 19 to 44 years. 11.2% in ages 45 to 64 years. 21% in ages 65 years and older, per reference."

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