Incontinence is one of the more embarrassing symptoms of menopause, affecting almost half of all women entering this transition and leading to embarrassing accidents if not caught on time.
Continue reading to find out some of the best reusable and disposable female incontinence pads so that you can skillfully choose which type and brand is best for you.
Categories of Incontinence Pads
Incontinence pads are created to absorb urine leakage as well as protect the skin from wetness and rashes.
While deciding the best female incontinence pads is subjective, the following options are worth exploring as each brand offers a variety of options suited to each individual.
Reusable Incontinence Pads
Reusable incontinence pads are generally made from odor resistant cotton for those suffering from light to moderate incontinence.
A couple popular brands are:
Hesta Organic. Hesta makes 100 percent organic washable incontinence pads that are soft for sensitive skin. They offer a variety of sizes, each with six layers of absorption and a waterproof layer of coated, pure cotton fabric.
ThinkEco. Also doubling as reusable menstrual pads, ThinkEco Organic-Hanji Reusable sanitary napkins eliminate unpleasant odors and relieve any skin troubles. They include a snap to stay in place throughout the day.
Disposable Incontinence Pads
On the other hand, disposable incontinence pads are made with several components, including a plastic backing, paper fluff pulp, and a one-way liner to lock urine into place.
Some of the more popular brands are:
Poise®. Poise® prides their pads for dryness, comfort, and odor control, delivering up to 12 hours of protection for day or night use. Some Poise® female incontinence pads also offer women a contour fit for increased comfort.
TENA®. TENA® disposable incontinence pads protect against leaks, odor, and moisture, keeping women fresh for hours on end. Also, some models of TENA® have a wide-back design for added leakage protection when women are laying down and getting up.
Always®. Also known for their menstruation line of pads, Always® urinary incontinence pads are thin and promise to lock odors away. They also have re-sealable wrappers to provide easy, sanitary disposal.
Tips for Choosing the Best Incontinence Pads
When choosing the best pads for incontinence, it is recommended to have the following tips in mind to provide optimal comfort and reduce leakage accidents.
In order to lessen leakage, it is best to choose pads that are shaped, fitted closely to the body, or with elastic sections around the legs.
To reduce skin problems, choose a type of incontinence pad with quick absorption of the liquid into the core of the pad. Absorbent crystals also help reduce skin irritation.
When choosing between disposable or reusable incontinence pads, have in mind who will be taking care of the maintenance of the pads. If you or someone else are comfortable with cleaning them, washable incontinence pads can be more cost efficient and environmentally friendly.
Long-lasting incontinence protection will come from resolving the underlying cause, which is normally hormonal imbalance for women passing through menopause. As such, incontinence treatments focus on natural and effective methods to nourish the endocrine system.
Key Takeaways
As can be seen, incontinence pads for women come in various shapes, sizes, and designs, modified to fit each individual's needs and comfort. Washable incontinence pads - from brands like Hesta Organic and ThinkEco - are generally made from cotton, offering women with light to moderate incontinence an environmentally friendly method to control their leaks, while disposable incontinence pads - from brands such as Poise®, TENA®, and Always® - are crafted with several layers for maximum protection and comfort. Keep the aforementioned tips in mind when choosing the best line of action against incontinence.
Sources
- Always Discreet. (n.d.). Feminine Bladder Protection in Every Form. Retrieved March 6, 2019, from https://alwaysdiscreet.com/en-us/incontinence-products#viewtype:gridview/facets:/category:incontinence-products/page:1/sortby:Featured-Sort/productsdisplayed:undefined/cwidth:3/promotilesenabled:false/pcwidth:1/cwidth:3/pscroll:
- Amazon. (n.d.). THINKECO [5 Pads] Organic-Hanji Reusable Menstrual Cotton Pads, Sanitary Napkins (L). Retrieved March 6, 2019, from https://www.amazon.com/Thinkeco-Organic-Hanji-Reusable-Menstrual-XX-Large/dp/B073V3275W/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1519677468&sr=8-25&keywords=organic%2Bincontinence%2Bpads&th=1&linkCode=w61&tag=firstforwomen-20&linkId=5dd213198ff8f648449893874c27e4d2&language=en_US&imprToken=KjQJNq6L43WIyrlAp9bnvA&slotNum=3#customerReviews
- Hesta Organic. (n.d.). Hesta Organic Women's Reusable Cloth Incontinence Adult Diaper Pads. Retrieved March 6, 2019, from https://www.hestaorganic.com/product/hesta-organic-womens-reusable-cloth-incontinence-adult-diaper-pad/
- Nazarko, L. (2009). Nursing in Care Homes. UK: Blackwell Science Ltd. Available from Google Books.
- Poise. (n.d.). Poise Pads & Liners. Retrieved March 6, 2019, from https://www.poise.com/en-us/products/pads-liners
- TENA. (n.d.). Women's Incontinence Pads. Retrieved March 6, 2019, from https://www.tena.us/pads/WomensPads,en_US,sc.html