How to Manage Urinary Incontinence After Prostate Cancer Treatment
Published on June 16, 2026
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Prostate cancer treatments are very effective. The five-year survival rate for an early-stage cancer is now over 99 percent.
Yet these treatments leave behind side effects. Urinary incontinence, which is difficulty controlling urination, is common after prostatectomy and radiation therapy.
Though incontinence usually improves within a year, while it lasts it can have a big effect on your emotional health. "Most of our patients have a very high functional [continence] status going into the treatment. When they do end up with severe incontinence, although it's rare, it completely takes away their quality of life," says Christopher Scott Gomez, MD, the director of reconstructive urology at Baptist Health Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute in Miami. "A lot of times they become depressed."
Here's a look at what to expect when you have incontinence after prostate cancer treatment, and how to manage this side effect.
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Types of Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence can vary in intensity, but also when it happens. Some people experience an urgent need to go, whereas others may only have issues during certain activities, and some people may experience both types of incontinence to varying degrees.
Two main types of urinary incontinence can occur after prostate cancer treatment.
- Stress incontinence happens with activity. Coughing, laughing, sneezing, jumping, or lifting something heavy puts pressure on the bladder. Because the sphincter no longer closes completely, urine leaks out of the bladder. "This is the most common type of incontinence after prostate cancer treatment, and we see that more commonly in men who have surgery rather than radiation," Dr. Gomez says.
- Urge incontinence (also called overactive bladder) is when you feel a sudden urge to go, but you can't make it to the bathroom in time. This type of incontinence happens more often after radiation therapy. Because the bladder is overly active, by the time you feel the need to go, it’s too late.
Incontinence is common after prostate cancer surgery, but it usually improves within a few months or up to a year. In the meantime, there are ways you can strengthen your muscles and products you can use to help avoid leaks.
Pelvic Floor Exercises (Kegel Exercises)
The pelvic floor muscles act like a sling to support your bladder and help you control the flow of urine. Strengthening these muscles is one of the main ways to regain continence after prostate cancer treatment. If you start pelvic floor therapy a few weeks before treatment or surgery it will prepare your muscles and make it easier to do these exercises afterward.
To do pelvic floor exercises, squeeze the muscles you use to hold in urine, hold the contraction for a few seconds, and let go. Ideally, do 10 contractions, three times a day. Sometimes these muscles are hard to find because they're deep inside your body. Working with a physical therapist can help you master the technique.
"The primary thing is to help people learn where the pelvic floor muscle is and how to use it," says Daniel Kirages, DPT, a professor of clinical physical therapy at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. With techniques like biofeedback and ultrasound imaging you can see the muscles contract while you do the exercises, which helps you learn how to control them. You should notice improvements in continence within four months after starting these exercises, he says.
In addition to strengthening your pelvic floor muscles, some people find it helpful to time their bathroom breaks or pace their drinking liquids to avoid leaks.
Pelvic floor muscle training is the main treatment for incontinence, but other methods are helpful, too.
Absorbent Products
Several types of absorbent products are available online or at your local drugstore to help prevent accidents. Which one you need depends on the severity of the problem. For mild incontinence, a liner, shield, or leakproof underwear should be enough. Severe incontinence requires a more absorbent pad or diaper.
Not everyone can stand using these products long-term. If the absorbent product is irritating or bothersome, ask your doctor about other treatments.
Clamps
These devices go over the penis and hold the urethra shut to prevent leaks. "They work fairly well but they're uncomfortable. Most men, if they can tolerate them, can only tolerate them for an hour or two," Gomez says. You'll need to remove the clamp about once every two hours anyway to restore blood flow and urinate.
Catheters
This thin, flexible tube goes through the penis into the bladder to drain urine. A catheter is an option for severe incontinence, or if you don't want to deal with absorbent products. There is also a less invasive type of catheter, called a Texas catheter or condom catheter, that is less invasive since it’s worn over the penis. But a catheter is only a temporary fix, and not a treatment for incontinence, says Gomez.
Surgery
If your symptoms haven't improved after six months of pelvic floor exercises and incontinence bothers you, your doctor might recommend surgery. Even if you're not bothered by incontinence, surgery might be worth pursuing if you've had this issue for a year. There are several types of surgical options available — your doctor will help choose which one is best for you based on your previous treatments and incontinence level.
Male Urethral Sling
The male sling is a treatment for mild to moderate incontinence. During the procedure, the surgeon places a sling made from polypropylene mesh underneath the urethra, says Gomez. The mesh acts like a hammock, lifting and supporting the urethra to keep the sphincter muscle closed and prevent leaks, he says.
Artificial Urinary Sphincter (AUS)
An artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) is a treatment for mild to severe urinary incontinence. It's an implanted silicone device that acts like your natural sphincter, says Gomez. A cuff wraps around your urethra and squeezes it to hold in urine. You control the AUS from a small pump in your scrotum.
"When you go to the bathroom, you give a small squeeze to the pump, which opens up the cuff and allows you to urinate normally," Gomez says.
There's a minimal risk of infection with both the sling and AUS procedures. And because the AUS is a mechanical device, it can break down over time. If that happens, you'll need another procedure to replace it.
Balloon Devices
Another surgical treatment is to implant a balloon at the base of the bladder.
It's an option for people with mild to moderate stress urinary incontinence who have not had radiation therapy. The balloon inflates and presses the bottom of the bladder closed to stop urine leakage.
Resources We Trust
- Cleveland Clinic: Incontinence After Prostate Surgery
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Managing Urinary Incontinence After Prostate Treatment
- Mayo Clinic: Prostate Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
- OncoLink: Urinary Incontinence After Treatment for Prostate Cancer
- UCSF Department of Urology: Dealing with Side Effects of Prostate Cancer Treatments
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
- Survival Rates for Prostate Cancer. American Cancer Society. January 13, 2026.
- Breyer BN et al. Updates to Incontinence After Prostate Treatment: AUA/GURS/SUFU Guideline (2024). The Journal of Urology. October 1, 2024.
- Breyer BN et al. Incontinence After Prostate Treatment: AUA/GURS/SUFU Guideline. American Urologic Association. July 27, 2024.
- Urinary Dysfunction After Prostate Cancer Treatment. Johns Hopkins Medicine. January 13, 2026.
- Incontinence After Prostate Surgery. Cleveland Clinic. January 30, 2024.
- Kegel Exercises for Men. Cleveland Clinic. January 28, 2025.
- Continence After Your Prostate Robotics Surgery. Mount Sinai.
- Artificial Urinary Sphincter. Cleveland Clinic. July 3, 2024.
- Managing Urinary Incontinence After Prostate Treatment. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. January 21, 2026.
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