Living with urinary incontinence can be both physically and mentally taxing, which is why many people use incontinence pads to help manage their symptoms. While these highly absorbent pads can help you go about your daily activities with confidence, they can also come with unexpected side effects, especially if you don't use them correctly.
From skin irritations to emotional impacts, knowing what to look out for can help you pick the right product for your particular needs. In this article, we take a closer look at incontinence pads by discussing their potential side effects, how to use them properly, and other treatment and management options for incontinence.
What Are Incontinence Pads and Why Do People Wear Them?
Incontinence pads are absorbent products with adhesive strips, similar to sanitary pads, except they are designed to absorb urine. They come in a wide range of different shapes, sizes, and absorbency levels, catering to different needs.
People primarily use incontinence pads to manage urinary incontinence symptoms, from light leaks to frequent accidents. For many, these pads offer a sense of freedom, allowing them to go about their day without worrying about urine leakage.
In general, women tend to wear incontinence pads more frequently than men due to factors like childbirth and menopause, which can exacerbate incontinence symptoms.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Wearing Incontinence Pads
Incontinence pads offer both benefits and drawbacks that are important to consider when deciding if they are the right management option for your needs. So, before we get to the potential side effects, let's review how these pads can simplify daily life while also presenting some hurdles.
Advantages:
Discreet protection: Most modern incontinence pads offer slim and subtle designs that remain hidden under clothing, allowing you to maintain privacy about your condition.
Peace of mind: You don't have to worry about leaking as your pad will absorb your urine, giving you confidence to participate in activities without constant concern about accidents.
Variety: Pads come in diverse sizes, shapes, and absorbency levels to meet individual needs and preferences.
Independence: Incontinence pads allow you to carry on with your social interactions and activities as usual without limitations or restrictions.
Hygiene: If used correctly, incontinence pads help keep your skin and clothing dry and free from urine, promoting better overall hygiene and reducing odour concerns.
Disadvantages:
Cost: Since incontinence pads are a recurring expense, the cost can really add up over time, especially for people who need to change their pads multiple times a day.
Inconvenience: Having to carry incontinence pads around with you and change pads multiple times a day can be an annoyance, to say the least.
No treatment benefit: While incontinence products can be a great way to manage your symptoms and give you the confidence to go about your day, they do not treat the issue.
Potential Side Effects of Incontinence Pads
While incontinence pads are often seen as a reliable solution to manage incontinence symptoms, they can also cause some side effects. Here are some of the most common ones:
Skin irritation
Wearing incontinence pads for prolonged periods can result in chafing and rashes, especially if you have sensitive skin. The combination of friction and moisture can easily irritate your genital area, causing redness, pain, and small bumps.
Discomfort
Incontinence pads are known for being quite bulky, and certain brands are bulkier than others. It's common to feel discomfort while wearing an incontinence pad, especially when sitting down or moving around. This discomfort can make you feel irritable and distracted.
Odour
Even if your pad has built-in odour control technology, there's still a chance it develops an unpleasant smell once it has absorbed a urine leak. That said, it's unlikely that anyone else will notice it. Still, just the fear of odour can cause anxiety and embarrassment.
Infection
The warm, moist environment offered by incontinence pads is the ideal breeding ground for bacteria and fungal infections. If pads aren't changed often enough and proper hygiene practices aren't prioritised, there's an increased risk of you developing a urinary tract infection.
Self-consciousness
Due to discomfort and social stigmas, wearing incontinence pads can lead to a lack of confidence and feelings of embarrassment. This worry may impact social interactions, once-loved hobbies, and day-to-day activities.
Chemical exposure
Some incontinence pads have absorbent gels, fragrances, and dyes that are filled with a variety of chemicals. Long-term exposure to these chemicals may result in skin irritation and a variety of other health concerns. Luckily, this risk can be mitigated by opting for fragrance- and chemical-free options.
Allergic reaction
While uncommon, some people experience allergic reactions when wearing incontinence pads. Symptoms can include swelling, itching, and general discomfort, so be on the lookout for warning signs and try switching to hypoallergenic pads if you experience any of these symptoms.
Ways to Minimise the Side Effects of Incontinence Pads
Fortunately, there are plenty of simple ways to minimise the potential drawbacks of using incontinence pads to manage urine leaks. Here are our recommendations:
Make sure you're wearing the right pad
To choose the right pad for your particular needs, consider the following factors:
The severity of your symptoms: Select a pad with the right absorbency levels by assessing how much and how often you leak. More urine will require higher absorbency.
Your lifestyle: If you lead an active lifestyle, you want to prioritise comfortable and discreet pads.
Size: Go for pads that offer a snug fit, as oversized pads will feel bulky and uncomfortable.
It may take you some time to discover the pad that's right for you. Don't hesitate to try out different brands, absorbency levels, and sizes until you find what works best.
Change pads often
Wearing pads for long periods can lead to skin irritation, redness, and an increased risk of UTIs. This is why you should change your pad as soon as you feel it's saturated. In general, it's recommended to change your pad every 2-4 hours.
Prioritise hygiene
To keep your skin healthy and reduce the risk of infection, you should clean and dry your genital area every time you change your pad.
Use barrier creams
Creating a moisture barrier prevents skin damage and irritation caused by prolonged exposure to urine and excess moisture. You can apply any barrier cream or ointment to the area before you put on an incontinence pad for the day.
Educating yourself
Learning about incontinence helps normalise the condition because you'll realise that thousands of others experience similar issues. Incontinence pads are not exclusively used by nursing home residents but also by many younger, active women who experience urinary incontinence.
Additionally, you'll discover other management techniques and treatment options. Speak to your general practitioner if you have any questions, and explore some of the online resources and forums out there.
Other Treatments and Management Techniques for Incontinence
If you don't feel like incontinence pads are the right choice for you, there are plenty of other management techniques and treatment options you can look into. The right choice for you will depend on the severity of your symptoms and the underlying cause of your incontinence.
Leak-proof underwear
While both leak-proof underwear and incontinence pads protect against urine leakage, leak-proof pants offer the added benefit of being reusable. Jude's leak-proof knickers are designed to help you go about your day with confidence by holding up to 8 teaspoons of urine.
Easily washable in a machine, these pants offer a convenient, eco-friendly alternative for those tired of constantly purchasing pads.
Pelvic floor exercises
In many cases, weakened pelvic floor muscles are to blame for urinary incontinence, particularly stress incontinence, where you leak when you cough, sneeze or exercise. Depending on the cause of your condition, you could reduce your symptoms by strengthening your pelvic floor.
From Kegels to bridge poses, there are plenty of easy exercises you can do within the comfort of your own home. Over time, the muscles around your pelvic organs will strengthen and offer you better control over your bladder.
Bladder training
This technique is often recommended for those who experience urge incontinence. It is also known as timed voiding. Bladder training aims to re-educate your bladder by urinating at specific intervals. The aim is to teach your bladder to hold more urine for longer periods by gradually increasing the intervals.
Stick to a strict bathroom schedule and keep a bladder diary to track your progress.
Lifestyle changes
By eating a wholesome diet, cutting out alcohol, quitting smoking, staying hydrated, and engaging in regular exercise, you could see a drastic improvement in your bladder health. Try to focus on eating nutritious foods, rich in vitamins and minerals, while drinking at least two litres of water/fluid a day. From there, you can begin tweaking other aspects of your lifestyle.
Surgery
Surgery is usually considered once other treatments have not been successful. I Also, in some severe cases, surgery is an option if you want to lead a life free from bladder leaks.
Some of the most common surgical options include:
Sling surgery: Takes pressure off your bladder by lifting and supporting the urethra with a sling made from your own tissue or synthetic mesh. It is commonly used to treat stress urinary incontinence.
Bladder neck suspension: Also known as colposuspension, this surgery provides support to the bladder neck and urethra, helping them stay closed during activities that increase abdominal pressure, such as coughing or exercising.
Bulking agents: Urethral bulking agents are injected into the walls of the urethra to increase its bulk, helping it to stay closed when needed.
Sacral nerve stimulation: This therapy involves implanting a device that sends electrical impulses to the sacral nerves which control bladder function. Used to stimulate the nerves between your brain and bladder and help improve signals. This is often used for urge incontinence or overactive bladder.
FAQs
What can make urinary incontinence worse?
Some of the things that can make your urinary incontinence symptoms worse include not maintaining a healthy weight,, drinking caffeinated drinks and smoking cigarettes.
Is urine leakage normal?
No, urine leaks are usually a sign of an underlying issue. If you're experiencing incontinence symptoms, you should book an appointment with your general practitioner as soon as possible. Once you've gotten a diagnosis, your doctor can help you come up with an effective treatment plan based on your symptoms and medical history.
What are the different types of urinary incontinence?
There are five main types of urinary incontinence, including:
Stress incontinence: Caused by physical actions like coughing, sneezing, laughing, etc.
Urge incontinence: Preceded by a sudden and uncontrollable urge to pee.
Mixed incontinence: A combination of urge and stress incontinence.
Overflow incontinence: Urine leaks caused by the bladder not emptying properly.
Functional incontinence: Difficulty getting to the bathroom in time because of cognitive issues or physical barriers.
Are liners a good choice for urinary incontinence?
If you only leak a little, then liners could be a good option since they are lightweight and more comfortable than incontinence pads. Just keep in mind that liners aren't a suitable option for those who experience heavy leakage or frequent leaks.
Final Thoughts
Here at Jude, we recognise the frustration and embarrassment urinary incontinence can bring. However, there is no reason for shame, as more than half of all women will experience urine leakage during their lives.
