Understanding
male urinary incontinence
Urinary incontinence occurs when there is a loss of bladder control and there is an unintentional loss of urine.1 What you may not know is that it is actually quite common.
1 in 10 men
over the age of 60 experience urinary incontinence2
Urinary incontinence is not just a physical problem. It can also have emotional, psychological and social impacts.1
Learning more about your type of incontinence and treatment options available can help you take back control of the life you want to live.
What are the signs of incontinence?
If you answer yes to any of the below questions, you may be showing signs of incontinence. Speaking with a physician who specializes in incontinence can help in the diagnosis of your type of incontinence and finding the most effective treatment option for you.
- Do you leak urine unexpectedly? If yes, is it a few drops, wet undergarments or wet clothing?
- Do you leak urine when you cough, sneeze, laugh, lift objects/exercise, or have other pressure on your bladder?
- Do you leak urine continuously during the day?
- Do you leak urine while sleeping?
- Has urine leakage caused you to change your lifestyle?
It’s important to understand: stress urinary incontinence can be treated.
If you are tired of changing multiple pads per day, there are long-term treatment options available.
“The male sling was a game changer. It put me back to a normal life. I don’t have any more restrictions.”
Tony
Virtue® Male Sling recipient
“We have a good time. We don’t have to plan anything. That’s the part that we’re enjoying now, embracing it.”
Cece
Partner of Virtue Male Sling recipient
References
1 Urinary Incontinence. Urology Care Foundation. https://www.urologyhealth.org/urology-a-z/u/urinary-incontinence. Accessed August 2024.
2 Shamliyan TA, Wyman JF, Ping R, Wilt TJ, Kane RL. Male urinary incontinence: prevalence, risk factors, and preventive interventions. Rev Urol. 2009;11(3):145-165.
3 Tsikis ST, Nottingham CU, Faris SF. The Relationship Between Incontinence and Erectile Dysfunction After Robotic Prostatectomy: Are They Mutually Exclusive? J Sex Med. 2017 Oct;14(10):1241-1247.
PM-33588
Important safety information
Virtue® Male Sling System Important Safety Information
Virtue Male Sling is a polypropylene mesh device or “sling” intended to prevent involuntary urine leakage (incontinence) at times of increased pressure on the bladder (e.g., coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting heavy objects, exercise). It is permanently implanted to support, elevate and gently compress the urethra, the tube that connects to the bladder to carry urine outside of the body.
Indications
The Virtue Male Sling System is an implantable, suburethral support sling indicated for the treatment of male stress urinary incontinence (SUI).
Contraindications
The Virtue Male Sling is contraindicated in patients with one or more of the following conditions: 1) documented hypersensitivity or allergic reaction to polypropylene, 2) active infection, including untreated urinary tract and/or infection in the operative field, 3) patients with untreated or serious blood clotting (coagulation) disorders, 4) patients with blockage of urine flow (obstructive uropathy), 5) patients under the age of 18.
Warnings
Your physician will conduct a complete evaluation with testing to confirm you are a candidate for a male sling. Patients will then be advised prior to surgery, of the warnings associated with the use of this product, the associated surgical and postoperative risks and potential complications. Sling associated complications may result in resurgery which may lead to partial or complete removal of the sling. Complete removal of the sling may not always be possible, and removal may not fully correct these complications. New onset (de novo) complications may occur. As with all surgical procedures, patients with certain underlying conditions may be more susceptible to postoperative bleeding, impaired blood supply, compromised/delayed healing, sling exposure or other complications and adverse events. The risk versus benefit of the male sling should be considered in patients with one or more of the following conditions: auto-immune disease, blood clotting (coagulation) disorder, connective tissue disease, impaired immune system (debilitated or immunocompromised state), diabetes, pelvic radiation therapy, physical characteristics (e.g., body mass index), kidney problems (renal insufficiency), smoking related conditions (e.g., COPD, chronic cough).
Potential Complications
Adverse events are known to occur with sling procedures and implants. Adverse events following sling implantation may be immediate or delayed, localized or systemic, new onset (de novo) or worsening, acute or chronic, transient or permanent.
Adverse events may include but are not limited to: allergic reaction, hypersensitivity; abnormal immune response (autoinflammatory/autoimmunity syndrome); bladder symptoms (e.g., increased daytime frequency, urgency, nocturia (urinating more than once per night), overactive bladder, urinary incontinence); bleeding/hemorrhage; delayed/impaired/abnormal wound healing; exposure, extrusion or erosion of sling into other structures or organs; fistula formation (abnormal connection or passageway between two structures in the body); foreign body granuloma (abnormal tissue formation)/scar tissue formation; genital burning / tingling / numbness (paresthesia); infection; tissue swelling/redness/discomfort (inflammation/irritation); avoidance/difficult/painful intercourse (dyspareunia / sexual dysfunction); tissue death (necrosis); weakness or loss of sensation (neuromuscular disorder); palpable mesh; pain; perforation or injury to adjacent muscles, nerves, vessels, structures, or organs (e.g., bone, bladder, urethra, ureters, bowel); collection of clear fluid or blood outside of tissue or vessels (seroma/hematoma); sling migration; urinary tract infection; inability to completely empty bladder (urinary tract obstruction); voiding symptoms (e.g., dysuria (painful urination), urinary retention, incomplete emptying, bladder outlet obstruction, straining, position-dependent voiding, slow stream).
This treatment is prescribed by your physician. Discuss the treatment options with your physician to understand the risks and benefits of the various options to determine if a male sling is right for you.
Caution: Federal law (USA) restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician.
PM-15544 / Apr 2024