Urinary incontinence refers to the loss of bladder control. It is a very common and often embarrassing problem. The severity ranges from occationally leaking urine when you cough or sneeze to having an urge to urinate that’s so sudden and strong you don’t get to a toilet in time.
Types of urinary incontince include stress incontinence, urge incontinence, overflow incontinence, functional incontinence and mixed incontinence.
A wide variety of products on the market exist to help people to manage leaks and keep dry, to make people feel more comfortable and more confident when suffering from either bladder or bowel incontinence. Incontinence pads or underwear or pants are popular choices for both women and men. There are many types, sizes and absorbencies on the market as many are designed to be as discreet as possible. You can decide which product to choose based on:
- How much urine you lose
- Comfort
- Cost
- Durability
- How easy it is to use
- How well it controls odor
- How often you lose urine throughout the day and night
Protective pads and garments are the most common products available, ranging from sizes, aborbencies, styles and colors. The most common ones include:
Absorbent pads
They’re disposable and designed for women and men. Adhesive strips hold them inside your underwear. They trap 8 or more ounces of urine and keep it away from your skin. They also block odor and can be changed throughout the day. They are used for heavy incontinence, available in a variety of thicknesses and absorbency levels and can be worn with regular underwear or reusable briefs.
Protective Underwear
For moderate to heavy incontinence. One-piece, underwear-like design that pulls up and down easily. Made with cloth-like material and features soft elastics.
Incontinence panties and briefs
They look a lot like everyday underwear for women and men. But they include a waterproof liner and built-in cloth pad that can absorb 10 or more ounces of urine. They are reusable, washable, and typically available in a range of colors. You can get day styles as well as overnight ones, which are designed to hold more urine. Like pads, this underwear is designed to be absorbent, to keep moisture from your skin, and to control odor.
Disposable Underwear
This comes in lots of styles. Some look similar to elastic-banded underwear but are designed to be disposable. Others have tape on the sides so they are adjustable and can be easily removed. They come in a range of colors as well as day and overnight versions.
