Choosing the Right Incontinence Products - A Comprehensive Guide for Men

Choosing the Right Incontinence Products – A Comprehensive Guide for Men

Loss of bladder control, or urinary incontinence, affects over half of all men in the UK. While the condition can feel embarrassing and affect your daily life, it is very common and nothing to be ashamed of.

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, please seek medical advice:

● Needing to pee often, both day and night

● Have trouble starting your urine flow

● A weak urine stream

● Straining (using stomach muscles) when urinating

● Feeling like your bladder is never all the way empty, even after you go

● Discomfort when urinating

● Pressure in your lower abdomen

If male incontinence products are a part of your management plan, choosing the right type of product is crucial, especially when trying to provide the dignity and comfort you deserve.

Understanding male incontinence

While male incontinence often occurs as a result of ageing, it can also be caused by other factors such as:

● Urinary tract infections

● Medication, for example, diuretic medications can increase the risk of urine leakage

● An enlarged prostate can obstruct urine from passing

● Being overweight puts extra pressure on abdominal and pelvic muscles, which makes it harder to avoid urine leakage

● Diabetes can cause nerve damage to your urinary tract, causing bladder problems

● Neurological conditions like Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis

● Neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. Alzheimer’s)

There are also several types of male incontinence:

Stress incontinence – where urine leaks out when pressure is applied to your bladder through activities like coughing, laughing, sneezing, exercising or lifting something heavy.

Urge incontinence – this causes a sudden urge to urinate and a subsequent involuntary release of your bladder. With urge incontinence, you may need to urinate more often, particularly at night, due to having an infection, diabetes or a neurological disorder.

Overflow incontinence – if your bladder doesn’t empty completely when you urinate, you can experience overflow incontinence. This is where small amounts of urine are involuntarily released on a regular basis.

Functional incontinence – with this type of incontinence, a physical or mental impairment prevents you from reaching the bathroom in time to urinate. An example of this is if you have arthritis and struggle to unbutton your trousers in time.

Mixed incontinence – this is where you experience more than one type of incontinence, such as a combination of stress and urge incontinence.

It is important to seek help and discuss your incontinence with a healthcare professional. Taking the first step can be liberating to both your well-being and mental health.

Movember: addressing men’s incontinence and mental health challenges

Movember is a significant time of the year that highlights the importance of addressing men’s mental and physical health challenges.

During November, participants are encouraged to grow moustaches to raise awareness of the health problems men face such as prostate cancer and to highlight men’s mental health. Their goal is to change the face of men’s mental health and encourage early cancer detection and treatment.

Male incontinence can have a drastic effect on your mental health, leaving you feeling not only embarrassed but also potentially anxious and depressed. However, with the right incontinence products, you can enhance your overall sense of well-being.

While the negative emotions you experience with incontinence may be perfectly valid, they can be reduced with the right support and products.

The importance of a tailored approach to incontinence

Some simple lifestyle changes can help improve urinary incontinence symptoms in some people. These changes can include:

Fluid intake - reduce your carbonated, caffeinated and alcoholic drink intake as these can irritate the bladder. By reducing your consumption and drinking more water, you may be able to regain some control over your bladder once again. Be sure to check the colour of your urine (it should be a pale straw colour).

Pelvic floor muscle exercises - a healthcare professional will explain how to carry out these exercises.

Medications

Other treatments are available, and your GP can advise on these treatments.

Each person’s experience with incontinence is unique, which also means your needs are going to be personal to you. Therefore, understanding what your unique needs are can be particularly beneficial when choosing the right incontinence products.

With so many incontinence products available for men, knowing which one will work best for you is crucial.

For example, it’s important to ensure you choose a product that aligns with your level of incontinence. Some of them are more absorbent than others, so you need to understand your needs and the product fully before purchasing.

Our product types and options

Attends For Men offers you a dignified, tailored approach to urinary incontinence. We understand everyone’s needs are different, so we provide a wide range of products to meet them.

All of our products are 100% breathable and offer odour protection to keep you feeling confident all day.

Attends For Men 1 & 2 Protective Shields

Our Protective Shields are for light bladder weakness and offer you a discreet way of preserving your dignity and keeping dampness and odours away.

Attends Men 2 & 3 Protective Absorbent Shields

Our Protective Absorbent Shields are for light-to-moderate incontinence. The shields are narrow in shape and use foam elastics for a secure fit. They also combine an Active Zone with Quick–Dry technology to promote rapid urine absorption and dryness.

Attends For Men 3 & 4 Protective Pads

If you have moderate urinary incontinence, then our Protective Pads may be right for you. These have protective leakage barriers and a wider front for complete protection.

Attends Pull-Ons

As well as pads and shields, we also offer pull-ons. These are a discreet option if you experience light to moderate incontinence. Our pull-ons fit closely to your body, making them discreet underneath your clothes.

Attends Flex

Attends Flex are belted briefs that can be used to manage heavy incontinence. The belt can be adjusted to fit comfortably across your body and an absorbent pad is fitted to reduce the risk of leakage.

All-in-one briefs

Our all-in-one briefs are suitable for heavy incontinence and come with adjustable tabs to provide the perfect fit. The super absorbent core ensures you stay dry and protected. All-in-one briefs are ideal if you are lying or sitting down for extended periods and are easy to change.

Attends fixation pants

The fixation pants are available in four different designs — Attends Stretch Pants Regular, Attends Stretch Pants, Attends Stretch Pants Comfort and Attends Stretch Fit Pants. These are designed to be used alongside the Attends-shaped pads to provide you with maximum comfort and dryness.

Attends Cover-Dri

The Attends Cover-Dri underpads can be used as an extra layer of protection when dealing with light to moderate incontinence. Their non-slip backing and soft top sheet make these the perfect addition when sitting or lying down.

Dignity, comfort and confidence

Choosing the right incontinence product can take a little research and a detailed understanding of what your needs are. Here are some key questions to consider when choosing incontinence products:

● What level of absorbency do you need? – these can include light, moderate or heavy

● Which type of fit do you prefer? – all-in-one briefs, belted briefs and protective shields all fit differently

● How do you plan on using or putting the products on? – can you easily fit them on yourself or do you need assistance?

● How many products do you need in a pack? – if you need them every day, then buying in bulk can be more effective

You will also need to consider your current mobility. If you are unable to use the bathroom on your own, opting for an easy-to-fit product could work better.

Your lifestyle also plays an important factor when deciding which incontinence product is best for you. Therefore, if you engage in sports or exercise regularly, you will need to think about which option provides you with the most protection and will be easy to swap out if needed.

Similarly, if you spend more time sitting or lying down, you may benefit more from underpads or all-in-ones.

The right incontinence product for you will provide dignity and confidence while keeping you dry and comfortable.

Support and resources

Here are some useful resources and support services to help you understand and manage your incontinence.

● Bladder & Bowel UK – provides a wealth of information and a national, confidential helpline.

● Bladder Health UK – a UK-based charity that provides information and support for incontinence and other bladder problems.

● Men’s Health Forum – a registered charity aiming to provide men and boys with information and support on their health.

● Age UK – can offer information and advice on different health conditions as you age, including incontinence.

You don’t have to struggle on your own. There are lots of other men out there who are going through the same thing and it can be comforting to seek out each other’s support.

Don’t be afraid to reach out and find your own community that can help you learn more about your condition and support you.

Being proactive when dealing with urinary incontinence is the best way to avoid embarrassment and keep your dignity intact. Attends offers many different male urinary incontinence products to help you feel secure and confident in your daily life.

Explore our complete range of continence products designed especially for men.