Worried about your wee?

From the age of 16 onwards, most women establish a lifelong pattern of going to the GP. A visit to the docs almost becomes habit for women, whereas for men, it remains taboo.

Urinary problems are estimated to affect around a quarter of men over 40, but the actual figure could be much higher as many men may be too embarrassed to visit their GPs for help, or unaware that they can be treated.

So why does it often take so much nagging and pushing to get a man to the doctors? One theory is that like animals, men don't like to admit when they're sick as signs of weakness would make them a target for predators in the animal kingdom. Problem is, this excuse doesn't wash in modern human existence, where the biggest life threat for most of us is an unhealthy diet.

A simple visit to the doctor can detect illnesses in enough time for them to be treated effectively. For millions of men, urine problems in particular can have a considerable impact on physical, mental and social well being, especially when left undetected.

Dr Fergus Macbeth, director of the Centre for Clinical Practice at the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) said: “Urinary problems are estimated to affect around a quarter of men over 40, but the actual figure could be much higher as many men may be too embarrassed to visit their GPs for help, or unaware that they can be treated.”

Around one in four men aged 40 and above have lower urinary tract symptoms such as needing to urinate urgently or frequently, retention of urine, hesitancy and incontinence. They can also be caused by an underlying health concern, such as a urinary tract infection or prostate cancer.

There was previously no national guidance for diagnosing and treating these symptoms in adult men, which meant that healthcare professionals were not always using the most effective treatments. Today, new guidelines from NICE aim to set a national standard so that all patients receive the same high quality treatments wherever they go.

Dr Macbeth said: “As the prevalence of these symptoms increases with age, and with life expectancy on the rise in Britain, it is vital that the NHS uses the treatments and management techniques that are proven to work best.

“This is the first time that we have published guidance specifically on how adult men with these symptoms should be diagnosed and treated. We hope that it will help standardise any variations in clinical practice and encourage more men to seek medical advice if they have any concerns.”

Dr Julian Spinks, a GP and guideline developer, added: “There really is no need for men to feel reluctant about visiting their GP or other healthcare professional if they have any concerns about urine problems, or for them to suffer in silence.

“The symptoms can be treated in a variety of different ways depending on the patient’s medical requirements and choice, from self-help methods to medications or surgical procedures. I hope that this guideline will prove to be a useful resource for the NHS and the potentially large group of patients that may require treatment.”