if you’re a man who experiences drips and dribbles, you’re far from alone
struggling in secret with bladder leaks stands in the way of freeing yourself from anxiety, improving symptoms and regaining confidence
published nov 03, 2025
3 minute read
3 minute read
“i just realized that there are a whole lot of guys going through this,” says 76-year-old dave. supplied
this story is sponsored by
tena canada
this story was created by content works, postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of a client.
as a long-distance truck driver, dave had the freedom of no boss looking over his shoulder, plus ample time to think and enjoy the passing scenery. but the edmonton man’s job did have a downside, which became increasingly distressing when he was about 64 years old. periodically, he would be gripped by an urgent, almost overwhelming urge to pee.
because he couldn’t just get off the highway to hunt for a washroom, dave, who is now 76, would try to turn his thoughts to something — anything — else. “it kind of interfered with my driving a bit,” he recalls with a rueful laugh. but nothing he did could take his mind off the pressing need to go.
at first, dave began experiencing a few leaks or drips of urine. but over time, the problem grew. to make matters worse, “my doctor kept telling me i wasn’t drinking enough water,” dave says. while he was in otherwise good health, by the time dave switched from long-distance hauling to driving a school bus three years ago, the bladder leaks had become even more frequent and disruptive.
“it was getting serious — at least three or four times a day, and two or three times at night,” he says.
eventually, dave took two steps that made his life much better. first, he told his family doctor what he’d been going through, resulting in a referral to a specialist who ruled out any potentially serious causes of his bladder leaks. his specialist also prescribed a medication to reduce the frequency and urgency symptoms dave was experiencing.
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dave also began using incontinence underwear that discreetly absorbed leaks and neutralized any odour, like tena men products.
having that insurance made a huge difference for dave’s peace of mind. “it changed a lot of things, because i could finally go places i wanted to and not have to worry,” he says. still, he wasn’t immediately comfortable with picking these products up for himself. “when i first started using them, i used to get my wife to buy them, because i was embarrassed,” he notes.
dave’s story is just one example of what remains a largely under-reported and almost silent, yet very common men’s health topic: male urinary incontinence. according to marketvision research conducted jointly with tena, one in three males over 40 — that’s 20 million men in north america — experience drips and dribbles.
and yet, 72 per cent of men who are affected believe male urinary incontinence is uncommon, which feeds into feelings of shame, loneliness and isolation. it’s not surprising then that a mere 5 per cent of men experiencing bladder leakage use products that are tailored to men’s bodies, and just 2 per cent open up about their experience with doctors or other men in their lives.
but by not seeking medical advice and support, men who experience bladder leaks not only put themselves through unnecessary anxiety and embarrassment, they could also be risking complications such as urinary tract infections.
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while age and major health conditions can contribute to bladder leakage, they’re not the only causes. lifestyle and dietary factors can also play a role, in addition to age-related swelling of the prostate gland that can interfere with emptying the bladder, or nerve problems due to stroke or conditions such as parkinson’s disease or diabetes. while it’s not always possible to eliminate the cause of bladder leakage, a wide variety of treatment options are available that can help improve symptoms.
after dave summoned the courage to talk to his doctor, he began letting go of the stigma and embarrassment and gained the confidence to pick up the products he needed himself. “i just realized that there are a whole lot of guys going through this,” he explains. “after all, when you go to the drugstore, there’s a big section for those.”
so, what advice would he give to other men who are starting to experience bladder leaks?
“make sure you go to the doctor to get things checked out,” he urges. “just keep positive and keep doing whatever you can.”
tena offers incontinence products for men, such as shields, guards and underwear, that come in different shapes, sizes and absorbency levels, all of which fit securely, look discreet, and are equipped with super absorption up front, where men need it most.
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incontinence doesn’t have to stop you from living your best life. know what to use and when.
to learn more about the causes and types of incontinence and find tools to help you choose the right product for your individual needs, visit tena.ca/en/men.
this story was created by healthing content works, healthing.ca’s commercial content division, on behalf of tena canada.
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