Survey: 11% of men 60+ report incontinence

Boston Scientific-backed survey findings being recirculated in June said 11% of U.S. men age 60 and older reported having experienced urinary incontinence in a poll of 2,000 men. The results were shared by Boston Scientific Urology on X and match a Talker Research release published July 9, 2025. The poll also found that 58% of men in that group had not discussed the issue with a doctor. Boston Scientific said the online survey was conducted by Talker Research between Nov. 1 and Nov. 8, 2024. ### Where did the 11% figure come from? Talker Research said it surveyed 2,000 American men age 60 and older in a “double-blinded” online poll commissioned by Boston Scientific. In that survey, 11% of respondents said they had experienced urinary incontinence. The release said the work was carried out from Nov. 1 through Nov. 8, 2024, and later published in July 2025. (talkerresearch.com) Boston Scientific’s own urology materials use similar language, saying urinary incontinence affects “1 in 10” men and that rates rise for those over age 60. The company markets devices and other treatments for incontinence, including products for male stress urinary incontinence. ### What did the survey say men are not telling doctors? (talkerresearch.com) The same Talker Research release said 58% of respondents who reported urinary incontinence had not discussed it with their doctor. The release also said 72% of all respondents had dismissed at least one health issue as a normal part of aging or not serious, 20% had purposely avoided seeing a doctor despite a health concern, and 13% said embarrassment kept them from speaking about health problems. (bostonscientific.com) Among men who said they had experienced urinary incontinence, 64% said it had caused inconveniences in their life, 32% said it had affected their mental health and confidence, and 65% said they believed stigma surrounds the condition, according to the release. ### Who is behind the survey, and why does that matter? (talkerresearch.com) Boston Scientific commissioned the survey, according to Talker Research, and the company is a manufacturer of incontinence treatments and devices. That does not invalidate the numbers, but it does mean the findings come from a company-funded poll rather than a peer-reviewed epidemiological study. (talkerresearch.com) Dr. Ron Morton, chief medical officer for urology at Boston Scientific, said in the release that men should “open up to their doctor, especially as they age.” Morton also said the company wanted to raise awareness of treatment options for male urinary incontinence. ### How does this compare with broader medical literature? (talkerresearch.com) Published medical sources describe urinary incontinence in older men as common and increasing with age. A BMJ Open protocol on urinary incontinence in older men cited U.S. prevalence rising from 11% among men ages 60 to 64 to 31% among men age 85 and older, while UpToDate says studies in men older than 65 have reported prevalence ranging from 11% to 34%. (talkerresearch.com) Those figures are not directly comparable with the Boston Scientific-funded poll because the methods differ, but they show the 11% survey result is within the range reported in other sources for older men. That comparison is an inference based on the cited prevalence ranges. ### What treatments did respondents say they knew about? (bmjopen.bmj.com) The Talker Research release said men reporting urinary incontinence most often cited medications, pads or diapers, and lifestyle changes as treatments they had tried. It said 46% had tried medications, 43% had used pads or diapers, and 29% had made lifestyle changes. Smaller shares said they were aware of physical therapy and artificial urinary sphincters, the release said. (talkerresearch.com) More than half of men who had experienced incontinence — 59% — said they would consider surgery if it were proven long-lasting and effective, according to the release. Boston Scientific’s product pages list the AMS 800 artificial urinary sphincter and male sling systems among its offerings for male incontinence. ### Where can readers find the source material? (talkerresearch.com) The Boston Scientific Urology X account shared the findings in a June thread, and the fuller methodology and results appear in the Talker Research release published July 9, 2025. Boston Scientific also summarizes its incontinence business and prevalence claims on its urology webpages. (talkerresearch.com)