The Most Popular Types of Pads for Urinary Incontinence and Their Benefits

July 3, 2024

By Robert Recker

Urinary incontinence is a common condition that affects millions of people. In the U.S. alone, studies show that over 46 million people experience some level of urinary incontinence. Some people also experience fecal incontinence, or the loss of bowel control, while others may have a combination of both urinary and fecal incontinence, also known as dual incontinence.

For this article we will focus on types of urinary incontinence and the absorbent pad products people use to help manage it.

What Is Urinary Incontinence?

Before we dive into the details of urinary incontinence pads, let’s first understand the term incontinence itself. Incontinence is the inability to control urine or bowel from passing out of the body. Incontinence is not a disease in itself, but rather, is often a symptom of another disease, medical condition, traumatic injury or other change to the body. Incontinence also may be a side-effect of medicine, stress, muscle loss, a muscle strain, pressure on certain areas of the body or other causes.

Contrary to common thought, incontinence is not a normal part of aging; however, it can be linked to an age-related body change.

There are six types of urinary incontinence: stress, urge, overflow, reflex, functional and mixed. The two most common types are stress (a sudden pressure or stress on the bladder that causes leakage) and urge incontinence, which is a sudden urge to urinate that is so strong it cannot be held long enough to reach the bathroom. The next most common type is mixed incontinence, which is a combination of stress and urge incontinence.

Urinary incontinence is more common than fecal incontinence, with about 44% of adults over age 65 experiencing only urinary incontinence and approximately 17% experiencing only bowel incontinence.

Types of Urinary Incontinence Pads

There are many different ways to manage urinary incontinence, including surgery, medication, therapies, exercise, diet changes and absorbent products. Just within the absorbent product category alone are disposable and reusable products, different product styles like “adult diapers” (tape-tab briefs or pull-on protective underwear), pads (personal care pads/guards/liners, booster pads or underpads/bed pads) and more.

In this article we will look specifically at several types of incontinence care pads.

1. Disposable Pads

There are a wide variety of disposable pads to choose from.

Personal care pads – These are also known as guards, liners and by other names. They are similar to feminine hygiene pads, menstrual pads or period pads, but are specifically made to absorb urine. They have a waterproof liner on the outside layer to keep urine and moisture from passing through, so they should be worn in regular underwear. They come in a large array of shapes and sizes, and some types are even gender-specific, with contours designed to fit male or female bodies.

Booster pads – Unlike personal care pads, booster pads do not have a waterproof backing and are designed to absorb fluid and urine from either side. They absorb an initial amount of fluid before allowing additional liquid to pass through. For this reason they are designed to be worn in combination with another disposable incontinence product that has a moisture-proof backing, preferably a tape-tab brief or pull-on protective underwear, which can catch this fluid passing through the booster pad.

Boosters are typically attached to disposable undergarments by an adhesive strip. The booster pad must be tucked securely inside a host garment; if part of the booster pad is sticking outside the host garment’s absorbent area, it could cause more leaks, around the leg or another area.

Underpads – We will discuss underpads or “bed pads” in their own section, below.

2. Reusable Incontinence Pads

Those who use incontinence pads should be aware that disposable pads are not their only option.

For those who prefer, there are incontinence products such as pads, liners and undergarments that are washable and able to be reused multiple times before needing to be discarded. Reusable incontinence pads often feature layers of cloth, bamboo or other plant-based absorbent material and are typically designed as protection against light incontinence leaks.

While one-time-use disposable incontinence pads typically utilize an adhesive strip, reusable incontinence pads usually stay in place in your underwear using fixtures such as a snap, button or hook-and-loop fastener. Some reusable products are not pads at all, but rather, actual underwear that have an absorbency pad discreetly built into them for utmost privacy.

Reusable incontinence pads also work to reduce the environmental impact of waste, which is very important to some wearers.

For some people, reusable pads may be a good option to help manage their light to moderate loss of bladder control. Contrarily, for those who need to wear incontinence pads to manage more severe levels of incontinence, reusable products might not provide the absorbency levels they need. This could lead to leaks or the constant need to change the product to avoid trapping in fluid that can be harmful to the wearer’s skin health if not absorbed into a fresh pad.

Also, reusable incontinence pads must be washed in between each use, which may end up being more work than desired. For those concerned about price, reusable incontinence pads also can be costlier than disposable units, and, combined with the additional expense of extra laundering, the overall price may exceed any expected savings.

3. Bed Pads

Bed pads are also commonly referred to as underpads, chux pads or other names.

These larger absorbent incontinence pads are primarily placed under a person in bed, but they have many other uses beyond their namesake. They are also effective for placing in wheelchairs, on the ground below commodes, as well as on top of furniture or baby changing tables. These are only the most common uses of bed pads, and there are many other ways to creatively utilize absorbency pads to help manage a life with incontinence issues.

Some underpads are designed to be strong enough to move or reposition individuals. This can assist caretakers when changing an incontinence product on a person who is lying down or unable to stand. An example of an extra-strength bed pad is the Tranquility® Air-Plus™ Extra-Strength Breathable Underpad.

Bed pads also come in a variety of sizes. Tranquility® offers underpads as big as 36″ x 30″, including the Tranquility Air-Plus Breathable Underpads.

Benefits of Using Urinary Incontinence Pads

There are many benefits to using urinary incontinence pads as opposed to pull-tab briefs or diapers. The most common benefit of incontinence pads sought by wearers is discreetness.

Incontinence pads, such as personal care pads, are significantly smaller than adult diapers and briefs. Because they feature their own waterproof backing, they can be used alone inside of regular underwear, which gives many people a feeling of security and discretion.

Some incontinence pads come individually packaged for ease of transporting in a pocket, purse, bag or other discreet method of convenient storage.

It’s worth noting that while booster pads must be worn inside another incontinence product due to their permeable build, they can also help provide greater discretion. For instance, indviduals with heavy incontinence may require a larger and bulkier disposable brief or pull-on underwear for proper protection. However, they could choose instead to use a small booster pad in combination with a lighter-protection brief or pull-on and get the same total amount of protection, but with less overall bulk.

When it comes to ease of removal and changing, booster pads and personal care pads are both typically an easier and more convenient option than changing a disposable undergarment. They are easy to remove – simply peel the adhesive strip from the undergarment, dispose of it and replace it.

Between the discreet transportation of fresh pads and the simple removal and disposal of used ones, it is clear to see why incontinence pads are one of the most popular methods of urinary incontinence management.

How to Choose the Right Urinary Incontinence Pad

There are many factors to consider when selecting the right incontinence products for each person’s needs. In shopping for incontinence pads, here are a few of the largest factors to consider.

Absorption Level

Personal care pads come equipped with an absorbent core to help prevent urine leaks and assist with bladder control. These absorbent cores can come in several different absorption capacity levels. The lowest-capacity level of incontinence pad may hold just a few ounces of urine. For those who have very light leaks and only need a little bit of urinary protective support, the low-level absorption pads may be the appropriate choice.

More absorbent pads built to manage moderate incontinence may hold a little more fluid, perhaps in the 8-12 oz range. But the most absorbent pads designed for ultimate absorbency and protection may absorb up to 20 oz or more of fluid and may help contain bowel incontinence. An example of a booster pad meeting this description is the Tranquility TopLiner® Booster Pad. These pads with maximum absorbency would be the most ideal selection for someone who manages heavy bladder leaks.

Whatever level of protection you need is dependent upon the type of incontinence you experience and the typical amount of urine released when you void. As a point of reference, the average individual adult urinary void is approximately 8-12 oz.

Size and Fit

Both personal care pads and booster pads are available in an array of sizes to fit different styles of clothing or different types and sizes of disposable host garments. For instance, the smallest personal care pads are designed to fit easily and discreetly in regular underwear, while Tranquility’s largest booster pad, at 32″ x 14″, is recommended to be used only in a bariatric (size 2XL-5XL) tape-tab brief or protective pull-on underwear.

Lifestyle and Activity

People who are managing incontinence often tell us they highly value products that allow longer wear time and fewer product changes per day. Booster pads are made to provide additional absorption capacity than using a diaper or pull-on alone, which extends the wear time if someone is planning a walk, a long drive or will simply be away from a restroom for a while, giving them more security and freedom to do the things they are passionate about.

FAQs

1. Can urinary incontinence pads be used by both men and women?

Yes. Urinary incontinence pads and specifically personal care pads are not menstrual pads or period hygiene products, which are associated with women. They are made for incontinence management and can and should be worn by both men and women. Incontinence pads come in many different shapes, styles and sizes. They conform to all body contours and should not be disregarded due to confusion with menstrual products.

Tranquility even offers a Male Guard product that features active side elastics that form a cup shape to create a barrier against leakage, while comfortably moving with the body.

2. Are reusable pads as effective as disposable ones?

There are pros and cons of both reusable pads and disposable ones. Reusable pads produce less waste and are therefore more environmentally friendly, but are typically not as absorbent as disposable pads. They often require more changes per day than a disposable pad, which makes them not as well suited for those with moderate to heavy incontinence. Reusable pads also require constant washing, which can become a tedious and expensive chore for some wearers.

3. Can I use urinary incontinence pads during exercise?

Yes. They are ideal for exercising given their smaller size for discretion and ease of changing and disposal.

4. How often should I change my urinary incontinence pad?

The average person goes through two to six incontinence pads per day. This can vary based on the type and severity of the person’s incontinence, the absorption of the product being used and other factors.

Tranquility incontinence pads are designed with a top layer that quickly wicks fluid away from the skin and draws it into the core, which contains special superabsorbent polymers that lock in fluid. These features allow longer wear time, so it’s possible you may need to use fewer pads per day than the average wearer.

5. Are there any side-effects associated with using urinary incontinence pads?

No. One of the best things about managing incontinence with disposable or reusable pads is that they typically do not cause any side-effects when used correctly.

Robert Recker

Robert is a Senior Manager of Content Marketing for Principle Business Enterprises, parent company of Tranquility Incontinence Products. He has 15 years of experience creating online educational content in the healthcare industry, specializing in medical supplies.

For more information or questions about this article, please call 1-419-352-1551 or email CustomerService@pbenet.com. 

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