Product Information

Pads and pants for incontinence

Absorbent pads and pants are commonly used for managing incontinence and in this article I will take a general look at the types of products available. I also want to consider washable products which, for economic and environmental reasons, are becoming more popular and widespread, having been eclipsed for a long time by the huge disposables industry.

When you are living with incontinence it is important that you find the best way to manage the problem, so that you will be able to carry on with your life and daily activities with the least interference. If it is not well-managed, incontinence can have a serious effect on self-confidence and your ability to travel, work and socialise. The appropriate use of good quality and well-chosen products can make all the difference.

There are many methods of management and your continence clinic should be able to advise you which might be most suitable for you. There are a lot of products on the market and you may need to try several different methods before finding the best - do not despair if one product does not work for you.

Sometimes it can be difficult to find out what the options are. You may find discussing ways to manage your incontinence embarrassing and, as a result, end up using one kind of product when in fact another might be more suitable.

It can be useful to have some idea about the range of products which are available because it is unlikely that one product will suit every situation. You may need several different kinds of products to manage your incontinence. For example, many people use lighter pads during the day and then use a much more absorbent pad at night, perhaps an all-in-one nappy type pad. A certain type of protection might be suitable for a particular activity, but is not any good for other times.

Disposables

Disposable pads are very commonly used. There are many different makes, shapes, sizes and thicknesses of pads and it is important that you use the correct type and that it fits well.

Disposable pads can be divided into a few categories:

• Pads without waterproof backing.
• Shaped pads with a waterproof backing.
• All-in-one "nappy style" shaped pads with waterproof backing and adhesive tapes.
Pads without waterproof backing

These pads are meant to be used in specially made pants which have a waterproof pouch into which the pad is inserted. There is generally a "stay-dry" fabric between the pad and your skin - the urine passes through this and into the pad. The pad can be changed without taking the pants off and then the pants can be washed at the end of the day.

This sort of system is useful for light or moderate incontinence - if the flow is heavy there is a risk that the pad may be unable to absorb it quickly enough and it may leak. These pads are not suitable for faecal incontinence or for night time use except for very light incontinence.

Shaped pads with a waterproof backing

These pads are held snugly in place by close-fitting pants. They have a "stay-dry" layer which goes next to the skin and a waterproof plastic backing - and between these are layers of absorbent materials.

The pads come in many shapes and absorbencies - the smaller ones can be worn inside normal close-fitting underwear while the larger ones work best with elastic mesh pants specially designed for this purpose.

For light incontinence, small rectangular or shaped pads are suitable for women, worn with normal underwear or mesh pants. Some pads have an adhesive strip to keep them in place. For men there are disposable absorbent pouches which can be worn with normal close-fitting underwear: the penis sits inside the pouch and an adhesive strip holds the pouch in place inside the pants.

For moderate and heavier incontinence larger shaped pads can be worn by men, women and children. These are normally used along with special stretchy mesh pants. There are also all-in-one disposable stretchy pants with a built in absorbent pad with a waterproof backing which are very easily fitted.

All-in-one "nappy style" shaped pads

All-in-one pads are often the most suitable for heavy incontinence and faecal leaks. These are designed like children’s disposable nappies, with adhesive tapes which fix at the sides to hold the garment in place. Provided they fit well, these offer very good protection against leakage and feel very secure. The all-round waterproof backing material also offers some protection against the leakage of odour from faecal incontinence.

These all-in-one pads can be worn without any other underwear, but it is often a good idea to wear pants over them in order to prevent rustling noises which can be noticeable in quiet environments.

These all-in-one pads are also available in different absorbencies and you may need to use different kinds at different times - a lighter pad during the day with a heavier pad at night, for example.

General points :

• You will probably need different types of pads at different times - a supply of one type of pad is rarely sufficient. For example, you may need a more absorbent pad at night than you can use during the day.

• The materials which a pad is made of determine how much it will absorb - not its size. Some pads contain "superabsorbents" which turn urine into a gel so that greater amounts can be held without leaking.

• Pads and liners designed for sanitary protection are not suitable for managing incontinence - the materials they are made of do not absorb urine well.

• It is not normally a good idea to use one pad inside another. If you do want to do this for extra absorbency, then only the outside pad should have a waterproof backing.

• Most pads are folded the "wrong way" when they are packaged. When preparing to change a pad, you should refold it length-ways, so that a "valley" is formed - this will make it fit better and will help the urine to be absorbed along the length of the pad rather than leaking out the sides.

• Pads should be changed regularly even if they are not wet or soiled, for the sake of the skin. Do not be tempted to re-use a pad which is not wet - pads deteriorate simply through wear.

Washable Absorbent Pads and Pants

Some people prefer to use washable absorbent pads and pants. As with disposable pads, washable ones are available in many different sizes and styles.

An important general point with washable pads is that they should always be washed a few times before they are used, to soften the fibres so that they are as absorbent as possible. Fabric conditioners should not be used as these will reduce absorbency and bleaches should be avoided as residues left in the fabric may irritate the skin.

Washable products have advantages over disposables :

• They are easier to store than huge packs of absorbent pads.

• They are considered by many people to be more comfortable than absorbent pads.

• Although expensive initially, over time they can be a cheaper option than disposable products.

• Some people prefer them because they are possibly more environmentally friendly.

• The lighter pads are available as part of normal-looking underwear.

However, they also have disadvantages:

• They are not easily washed by hand, so a washing machine is needed.

• They are slow to dry, so a good number of washable pads is needed to ensure that you have enough to last until the washed ones are dry.

• They are not recommended for faecal (bowel) incontinence because of staining.

• They are generally less absorbent than an absorbent pad of a similar size - so very bulky pads would be needed for heavy incontinence.

Pants with absorbent pads

Probably the most widely used washable products are those for light incontinence. For boys or men, Y-front pants are available with a built-in pad. For girls or women, ordinary-looking pants are available with a built in pad.

Pants are also available for men, women and children with a pouch to hold a separate absorbent pad which can be washable or disposable. These can absorb slightly larger amounts of urine. Some pants have a waterproof gusset which is intended to hold a pad with no waterproof backing. Other pants have no waterproofing and depend on pads with waterproof backing. Care must be taken to use the correct combination of pants and pads.

For heavier incontinence

All-in-one washable garments are available for heavier incontinence and night-time use. These are made of very absorbent materials with a waterproof backing and are fastened at each side by velcro or poppers. These garments are becoming more popular and are often available through mail order.

There are also pull-on "trainer" pants in child and adult sizes. These are made of very absorbent materials on the inside with a waterproof outer layer and elasticated waist and legs.

Waterproof pants

With the development of effective disposable products which have their own plastic backing, waterproof pants made of either PVC, rubber or coated fabrics have become less common. Generally they are not popular with the nursing profession these days. It is true that they can be hot and uncomfortable, but this is true of disposable products too.

However, they can be very useful at times: as in many circumstances, the old ideas are often the best. When out and about, some people prefer to wear plastic pants over whatever other absorbent protection they use, even if this has its own waterproofing: the plastic or rubber pants provide another barrier against leaks and a feeling of security and confidence. Where faecal incontinence is a problem, they can help to contain odour.

Quite a number of people prefer to wear "old-fashioned" towelling nappies with plastic or rubber pants, especially for night-time protection. Some say they are less likely to leak and are more comfortable than disposable pads or nappies. Several medical suppliers manufacture plastic, rubber and waterproofed fabric pants and nappies in adult and child sizes.

Whatever the degree of your problem, you will be able to manage it better and live a full life more easily if you have found the products which suit you best. Try not to be embarrassed about discussing you incontinence and any problems you may have with the products you are using.

And don’t be frightened to ask for better products from your local continence services - you deserve it! Many people don’t get the products they need, and some end up having to purchase some items privately. If you are in that situation, make sure you let your local health service providers know that you are having to look further afield for appropriate products. And keep Incontact informed too - we will be pushing for the new guidelines on continence services to be put into action, and that includes people receiving the products they need.

With kind thanks to www.incontact.org