There's a version of this conversation that happens in GP waiting rooms across Australia every week. A man sits down, fills out the form, and when it asks about bladder issues, ticks "no" - even though the answer is yes.
He's been managing it privately for months, maybe years. He's changed his routine. He avoids long car trips. He knows exactly where every public bathroom is.
He just hasn't told anyone.
Around 2.4 million men and boys in Australia experience incontinence. That's a number most people find surprising - because most of those 2.4 million are managing it quietly, without help, and without the right products.
This Men's Health Week, we're talking directly to those men. And to the partners, sons, and daughters who love them.
Why men get incontinence
The prostate is the most common culprit. As men age, the prostate naturally enlarges and can press on the urethra - affecting the ability to control urination. Prostate cancer treatment, including surgery and radiation, frequently causes urinary leakage during recovery and sometimes beyond. Other causes include pelvic floor weakness, neurological conditions, diabetes, and certain medications.
Stress incontinence - leaking during a cough, a sneeze, or lifting at the gym - is far more common in men than most realise. It doesn't only happen to women after childbirth. It happens to active men too.
After prostate surgery: what to expect
Urinary leakage following a prostatectomy is one of the most common concerns men face after treatment. For many, it improves significantly within weeks to months as the pelvic floor recovers. A continence physiotherapist can make a real difference during this period - pelvic floor exercises done correctly and consistently help speed recovery and restore control. Starting rehabilitation before surgery is increasingly recommended, so ask your urologist early.
In the meantime, the right washable product can restore the confidence to stay active while you heal - without the ongoing cost and waste of disposables.
The cost of staying silent
Around 70% of people with urinary leakage do not seek advice or treatment. For men, the barrier is often a combination of shame and the belief that nothing can be done. But incontinence is treatable. Pelvic floor physiotherapy, medication, and lifestyle changes can all make a significant difference - but only if you start the conversation.
The right product can restore the confidence to go further, do more, and stop planning your life around the bathroom.
What washable incontinence underwear means for men
At Night n Day, we make washable incontinence underwear specifically designed for men - because men's bodies and men's needs are different, and the products should reflect that.
Washable incontinence underwear - looks and feels like regular underwear, with built-in absorbent protection from light to moderate leakage. Wash it, wear it, repeat - no ongoing disposable costs
BONDS and JOCKEY ranges - familiar brands adapted for incontinence, so nothing has to feel clinical or unfamiliar
Washable pad inserts - for additional absorbency inside existing underwear, easy to add on heavier days
Waterproof bedding - for overnight confidence without the disposable waste, washable on a normal cycle and built to last
Waterproof swimwear - for overnight confidence without the disposable waste, washable on a normal cycle and built to last
This Men's Health Week
If you've been managing this privately - you don't have to. Book the GP appointment. Try a pair of washables. Tell someone.
And if you're buying for someone you love: sometimes the kindest thing you can do is find the solution and put it quietly in front of them.
Together, we'll take you there. Anywhere.
Sources
- Continence Foundation of Australia - Men's Health: continence.org.au/about-incontinence/mens-health
- Continence Foundation of Australia - Statistics on Incontinence: continence.org.au/about-incontinence/what-is-incontinence/statistics-on-incontinence
