Urinary incontinence is a loss of bladder control, which means that you may not be able to control when you urinate. Symptoms can range from occasional minor leakage of urine to having urges to urinate that are hard to control. This is a problem common to many people, and is not limited to the elderly. It can be brought on temporarily for many reasons, or develop into a permanent condition. This issue can have a big impact on the self esteem of those affected as well as their ability to take part in everyday activities.
Fortunately, many people are able to use incontinence pads to control the symptoms of urinary incontinence. Incontinence pads are absorbent pads which are worn underneath the clothing and underwear, and capture any urine that is accidentally released. There are many different types of pad. Small ones are available, which suit those that only experience minor leakages such as when coughing or laughing. Larger pads are also available if necessary, as are specially designed incontinence pants for worry free enjoyment of physical activity.
The four main types of body worn pads for heavier incontinence are pads which are inserted into underwear or stretch pants, disposable diapers, T shaped disposable diapers with a waist band and pull up style pants. Washable versions of these are also produced. In addition, incontinence bed pads and chair pads are produced for extra support when used with a worn pad. Some of these designs suit men more than women or vice versa and some are best used at different times of the day. A major clinical trial found that for older users there is no one design that is better than others. In the disposable designs, a diaper style pad was the most effective option for men, beating out the cheaper insert style pad and the more expensive pull up diaper design. For women, the most effective and preferred option was the disposable pull up design. For lighter urinary incontinence, the insert style pad may be a better option, so it is worth trying the different options to find the most suitable one for your circumstances.
In addition, some may find that different products are better for different times of the day, or different activities. Urinary incontinence is most common in people over the age of 50, and more likely to affect women. However sufferers can be young or old, healthy or ill. Symptoms can be experienced by women who have given birth, men who have had prostate surgery, anyone who is constipated, on particular medications, or who has a range of medical conditions such as diabetes. It can also be caused by urinary tract infections and obesity.