Tens of thousands of men struggling with urinary incontinence could be helped by a change in the law demanded by a group of MPs.
They have called on the government to ensure that sanitary bins are installed in all public men’s toilets – as well as those in shops and restaurants – for the hygienic disposal of incontinence pads.
Current legislation requires female staff in the workplace to provide these containers in which to dispose of used tampons and sanitary towels. They can also be seen in most public toilets for women. But there is no such provision for men, even though one in three people over the age of 65 suffer from leakage to some extent – often as a result of surgery for prostate cancer.
Mail on Sunday’s GP columnist Dr Ellie Cannon wrote last week about the ‘hidden woes’ of male incontinence and wondered why it was such a difficult subject for people to discuss. In response, she received dozens of letters from male readers describing their daily problems, as some end up using more than a dozen incontinence pads a day, each costing between 50p and £1.
Some describe how they often have no choice but to carry wet sanitary towels around in public until they find a suitable place to throw them away, while others limit themselves to asking wives or girlfriends to dump them in the ladies’ toilets. Many claim that the lack of waste bins is ruining their social life.
Jonathan Hall, 62, from Petersfield, Hampshire, has suffered leaks since undergoing surgery for prostate cancer in 2020. “It’s unbelievable that there are so few facilities,” he says. “I recently went into a major chain coffee shop and there wasn’t even a single trash can.”
One in three men over the age of 65 suffers from some degree of urine loss – often as a result of surgery for prostate cancer
A prostate cancer survivor says, “If I can’t find a discreet trash can, I don’t put it in my pocket until later.”
Another concerned reader added: ‘I’m scared of leaving home and need to plan ahead. I always take a few diaper bags with me to put the used pads in, but I often carry them with me until I get home.”
Some luxury hotels do have sanitary bins in the men’s toilets, says one reader, but they are in the minority: ‘This is a problem when you’re out with friends because I need a new sanitary towel every three hours.’
Urinary incontinence and bladder control in women, often caused by childbirth, have relatively high public awareness, with even TV advertisements for products. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations Act 1992 states that employers have a duty to ensure that all women’s cubicles have a sanitary waste bin, or if one is not available, they must clearly signpost the nearest one.
The containers usually have pedal-operated lids and some have antibacterial liners to protect against germ buildup and odors.
Earlier this year, the charity Prostate Cancer UK launched a campaign called Boys Need Bins. It says one in eight men will develop prostate cancer – rising to one in four among black men – and a significant number suffer from bladder problems. This is because prostate surgery can damage the nerves that control urinary function when the cancerous tissue is removed.
Prostate Cancer UK claims that more than a third of men with incontinence are less likely to leave the house due to leaks and problems disposing of sanitary towels, increasing the risk of social isolation. Research shows that a similar number also keep wet sanitary towels, instead of looking for somewhere to get rid of them.
But progress is being made. Earlier this year, Jersey passed a law requiring sanitary bins in all men’s public toilets on the island, and Winchester Council in Hampshire voluntarily installed them in men’s toilets. In the meantime, hygiene specialist PHS Group has installed them in all approximately sixty motorway service stations of the Moto group.
Now a group of five MPs, along with former Age Concern staffer Baroness Barker, have called on the Government to do more to help men with incontinence.
The group, which includes Tories Marco Longhi, Andrew Selous, James Morris and Justin Tomlinson and the SNP’s Kirsten Oswald, wrote to health ministers last week demanding that the installation of sanitary containers be made a legal requirement in public toilets.
Baroness Barker told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Incontinence is a difficult topic for anyone to talk about, but we need to recognize the problem and help people live with dignity.’
Jonathan Hall, 62, from Petersfield in Hampshire, has suffered leaks since undergoing surgery for prostate cancer in 2020.
“It’s unbelievable that there are so few facilities,” says the father of two children. “I recently went into a major chain coffee shop and there wasn’t even a single trash can.
‘I had to change my sanitary towels and put them in the bin in the middle of the coffee shop, where everyone also put their sandwich bags or napkins. I felt terrible, but had no other choice. It’s not fair to the staff, the customers or me.
‘One man I met said he hadn’t left the house in two years because he didn’t want to go anywhere unless he could be sure he could change his sanitary towels and throw them away in a designated waste bin.’
Jonathan added: “The government must listen to our experiences and take action. Incontinence trays for men should be mandatory.’
The Department of Health and Social Care was approached for comment but did not respond.