INCONTIENCE CARE HYGIENE
Jul 13, 2023
Incontinence pads and other products and devices can make life easier for you if you're waiting for a diagnosis or for a treatment to work.
A wide range of products and devices are available for urinary incontinence.
They include:
- pads and pants
- bed and chair protection
- catheters and penile sheaths
- skincare and hygiene products
- specially adapted clothing and swimwear
Pads and pull-up pants
The most popular incontinence products are absorbent pads that are worn inside underwear to soak up urine.
Pads and pull-up pants use the same technology as babies' nappies and have a "hydrophobic" layer which draws urine away from the surface of the product, so your skin stays dry.
If you have mild to moderate incontinence you can buy thin, discreet pads or pull-up pants for men and women from many supermarkets and pharmacies.
For people with severe leaks, continence clinics and district nurses can supply incontinence pads on the NHS, but these tend to be big and bulky.
Using tampons for stress incontinence
Placing a tampon in your vagina puts pressure on the neck of your bladder to stop leaks on exertion. However, do not regularly use super-size tampons to prevent sudden leaks if you have stress incontinence.
The Authorities does not recommend using tampons for the routine management of urinary incontinence in women.
However, tampons can be used occasionally, when necessary, to prevent leaks. For example, during exercise.
Appliances and bedding
Other useful incontinence products for more severe leaks include urinals (devices that collect urine), or sheaths and drainage systems (if you have a penis).
A variety of incontinence bedding is also available, such as washable bed pads that sit on top of the mattress and soak up any overnight leaks. The pads stay dry to the touch and they can be useful for trips away from home.