Urinary incontinence is the involuntary passing of urine, a condition that affects millions of people around the world.¹ Whilst it is a common condition, it can be inconvenient or even distressing if not properly managed and we at iD want to help caregivers to look after their patients and/or loved ones and let them live life in full view.  

There are several different types of incontinence and in this article, we will address the three main types of incontinence and how you can best manage them. 

Stress Incontinence 

Stress incontinence is when the bladder is leaking urine at times when it is under pressure.² For example, this can happen when you cough or sneeze, lift heavy objects, exercise or are overweight or pregnant or have some medical conditions.³  

There are a variety of treatments that one can try to help relieve your symptoms if one experiences stress incontinence. Encourage your patient or loved one to try Kegel (or pelvic floor) exercises several times a day, quit smoking, lose weight or limit the consumption of alcohol and caffeine.⁴ For more information on how best to perform pelvic floor exercises, check out our blog post on it here. 

It is also important to make sure you are using the right products for your patient or loved one. If the amount of urine leaked is relatively small, you may find our light incontinence pads are suitable, available for purchase here. 

Urge Incontinence 

Urge incontinence is when one frequently has a sudden desire to urinate and experience bladder leakage before he/she is able to get to the toilet. This can occur both during the day and night and may happen more frequently during certain activities, such as sex. This condition is caused by an overactive bladder. 

Some things your patient or loved one may find useful to try are cutting down on caffeine (as this can worsen an overactive bladder),  do pelvic floor exercises or undertake medication and bladder retraining.⁵  The latter two should be supervised by a doctor.  

If you find that your patient or loved one is passing a lot of urine, incontinence underwear could useful & comfortable. You can view our range of adult pants here. 

Overflow Incontinence 

Overflow incontinence is caused by the bladder failing to completely empty itself during urination. Small amounts of the remaining urine will then leak if the bladder becomes too full.  

Once again, Kegel exercises, bladder training and incontinence products may help to alleviate the symptoms and allow your patient or loved one to feel comfortable and secure.⁶  

As previously said, all types of bladder leakage can be managed using the right products. iD has a wide range of  hypoallergenic, dermatologically-tested products you can trust.  

Click here to find discreet, affordable products that will help your patient or loved one live life in full view. 

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^[1] “Urinary Incontinence”, NHS, 7 November 2019, Source : https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/urinary-incontinence/ 

^[2] Ibid 

^[3] “Types of Incontinence”, Continence Foundation of Australia, 2011, Source: https://www.continence-foundation.org.uk/types-of-incontinence.html 

^{[4] “Stress Incontinence”,} Mayo Clinic, d. inc., Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/stress-incontinence/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355732 

^{[5] “Urge Incontinence”,} Patient.info, 19 October 2016, Source: https://patient.info/womens-health/lower-urinary-tract-symptoms-in-women-luts/urge-incontinence 

^{[6] “Overflow Incontinence: What Is It and How Is It Treated?”,} Healthline, 22 Juin 2017, Source: https://www.healthline.com/health/overactive-bladder/overflow-incontinence