When should I start using incontinence products?

If you’ve found your way here, then it’s likely you’ve had a couple of accidents and you’re wondering when you should start using incontinence items. Leaking and incontinence isn’t an easy thing to get your head around. But, if you’re reading this, it means you’re already on the right path to owning your problems and living your best life.

Before we dive in, it’s worth saying that you’re not alone. There’s 14 million people in the UK experiencing some kind of bladder problem. Roughly 20%. If five people were standing in a room, there’s a good chance one of them would be experiencing incontinence. You get the idea, let’s carry on.

Early signs of incontinence:

It can be easy to dismiss minor accidents as isolated incidents. But, when these incidents become more frequent, it's time to take notice. If you find yourself rushing to the toilet more often or experiencing occasional leakage, it’s a strong signal that it's time to consider incontinence products.

Consistent nighttime leakage:

Waking up to find you’ve had an accident isn't just uncomfortable; it can be emotionally distressing. You might find yourself rushing around to cover it up before anyone finds out. Before you do, take a minute to calm yourself, this happens to a massive amount of people in the UK. Try talking to someone in the house about it before covering it up, you might find it lifts a big weight off of your chest. 

If you're experiencing regular nighttime accidents, Vivactive have specially designed incontinence products designed for overnight use to help you sleep better and wake up feeling refreshed.

If you need some tips on managing incontinence at night time, check out our other blog post. Alternatively if you need a hand removing the smell of urine from your mattress, this post might help you out. 

Loss of bladder or bowel control:

When you reach a point where you can no longer control your bladder or bowel movements consistently, it's definitely time to start using incontinence products. Don't sit around letting embarrassment hold you back from enjoying your life. Buy some pads and seize the day. 

Adult nappies (slips):

Adult nappies cater for people that aren’t interested in discretion. Generally, they’re for people with heavy incontinence and/or mobility issues. Adult nappies are also a great choice for people experiencing dementia or other mental health related difficulties; the nappies' superior protection and absorbency can make their lives less complicated. 

Their enclosed design means they offer the best security against leakage and due to the higher absorbency levels, they’re a bit more heavy duty than disposable pants.

Large shaped pads:

Large shaped pads are another heavy duty option, built specifically to handle big leaks. Their huge absorption capabilities and traditionally bulky design mean they’re geared mostly toward people with chronic incontinence and people that are less mobile. Large shaped pads are trickier to put on than disposable pants or discreet pads and are almost always paired with something called ‘net fixation pants’ to hold them in place. 

Discreet pads:

Discreet pads, as you may have guessed by the name, are built with discretion in mind. They tend to be smaller than large shaped pads and are usually worn inside your regular underwear. The absorbency levels of discreet pads are lower than what you might find with large shaped pads, but what they lack in absorbency they make up for in discretion and mobility. 

These are a great option for people experiencing smaller leaks who need a product that's easy to manage. 

Washable pants:

Washable pants provide a reusable, eco-friendly and budget-friendly solution for light incontinence. Their absorption capabilities are on the lower end, but they’re a great option for people experiencing smaller leaks. They look and feel just like regular underwear for maximum discretion. The fact that they look identical to your usual underwear can offer an easy transition into your new incontinence journey. 

One of the big plus points here is that there’s no faffing around trying to dispose of them, you simply chuck them into the washing machine and once dry, pop them back on again.

Choose the right brand:

It’s easy to just default to the brand you know, but that’s not always the best choice. Have a look online, there’s some really great brands out there offering premium-tier products at a much lower price point. Vivactive are a great example here. We’re committed to providing the highest quality incontinence products but at a fraction of the cost of supermarkets. 

Compare Prices:

Early on in your incontinence journey, there’s a good chance you’ll find yourself in the supermarket looking at a half-stocked shelf with expensive price tags. By shopping online with retailers like us at incontinence choice, you can save yourself hundreds of pounds per year. We sell the same products you’d find in the supermarket, but at a far lower cost. We’re not here to rip you off. 

Set up a subscription:

If you think your incontinence is going to end up as an ongoing thing, you might want to consider setting up a subscription. They’re easy to set up and mean you’ll receive the items you need exactly when you need them. You can also save even more money. For example our subscription service nets users an extra 10% off every order. Savings on savings!