For those who are new to incontinence management, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of choice available. There are many factors to consider when finding the right incontinence product for your needs, including age, gender, activity levels and type of incontinence.

If you’re looking for a helpful guide to navigating the world of continence management products, you’re in the right place.

Incontinence is a personal experience for each and every one of the over 5 million Australians who experience it. Some people only experience urinary incontinence, while others experience faecal incontinence (or both). Different continence management products address different types of incontinence.

Types of urinary incontinence include:

• Stress incontinence occurs during activities such as bending, lifting, or coughing, which can put pressure on the bladder.
• Urge incontinence is caused by the bladder contracting when it shouldn’t, often leading men to struggle to make it to the bathroom in time
• Mixed incontinence is a combination of both stress and urge incontinence.
• Overflow incontinence happens when the bladder is unable to be completely emptied, leading to unexpected leaks.

A doctor or health care professional is the first port of call when it comes to understanding the type and degree of your incontinence, as well as its root cause. They’ll be able to identify whether or not the incontinence you’re experiencing is permanent or temporary, as well as any specific treatments that may be useful in reducing its impact.

Absorbency refers to the amount of urine an incontinence product is able to absorb and retain before leaking. Incontinence needs range from light to heavy, with different absorbency levels also serving different activities, such as sports or overnight needs.

You run the risk of exposing the skin to irritation if incontinence products do not absorb at a pace that matches urine leaks during the day or night. For light incontinence, pads are generally most useful. For those experiencing moderate to heavy incontinence, pull-up pants or adult nappies can provide more coverage and subsequent peace of mind.

Whether you're using incontinence pads or pants, these need to be changed frequently to keep your skin dry and clean.

We created a comprehensive guide where you can learn why absorbency matters and how to ensure your continence product’s absorbency exactly matches your needs.

If a continence management product is too big or too small, not only will it be uncomfortable for the wearer, but it will lead to issues around leakage and hygiene. It’s common for those new to the world of incontinence products to confuse absorbency with size, so make sure you’re assessing those two needs on individual levels.

Each continence management product will have a fit guide, as well as a guide on how to measure against their product sizing accurately. Elements such as hip and waist circumference play a key role in ensuring the appropriate fit.

While some people experiencing incontinence may lead fairly sedentary lifestyles, others are highly active, looking for continence management products that can keep up with a busy life. As incontinence can impact people of all ages, it’s important to find a continence product that keeps up with your lifestyle needs, equipping you to go about your day with confidence.

Those with a more active lifestyle often find that pants and pads are a great choice, as they’re easier to change throughout the day, and can be managed by a single person rather than needing support.

With a high percentage of elderly nursing home residences experiencing incontinence, it’s also common for many people to require assistance in changing their incontinence products. Different products are more appropriate for those who are sedentary, with easy changing options a plus for those who are assisting a resident or loved one throughout the day.

Skincare is of great concern to those with incontinence, as leaking urine and stool can lead to skin problems near the buttocks, hips, genitals, and between the pelvis and rectum without best-practice continence management.

Excess moisture from incontinence-related leaks can result in a wide range of skin problems, including redness or peeling, irritation and yeast infections. It’s also common for ill-fitting continence management products to lead to chafing.

Skin health can be managed and prioritised with a combination of careful planning and best-fit continence management products. By cleaning and drying the skin after urination or a bowel movement, it can be protected from the impact of excess moisture.

The best continence management products will also assist in alleviating skin health concerns by drawing moisture away from the body. With the strategically designed placement of absorbent material, these products can help keep the wearer dry, comfortable and without risk of skin damage throughout each day.

If you’ve ever tried to find the right continence management product in a chemist or supermarket, you may have experienced frustration - an overwhelming choice and little assistance to make the right decision. Some people may also find it uncomfortable to purchase these products in person, particularly if they don’t find the right fit the first time and need to repeat the process.

ConfidenceClub’s easy direct-to-your-door delivery removes these challenges. With discreet, fast delivery that can be set up on a recurring schedule, you can remove the barriers to accessing the best continence management product for your needs.

If you’re still not sure which continence management product is best for your needs, ConfidenceClub has developed a unique solution to remove concerns about finding the best fit. We provide an easy to follow ‘Help Me Choose’ quiz that can guide you through choosing the right product for your need.

 'It Fits Or It’s Free' is our money-back guarantee that ensures complete peace of mind when ordering the continence management products you’re looking to try. Should these products not suit you (for any reason!), you’ll not only get a full refund, but ConfidenceClub’s dedicated team of experts will assist you in finding the right product for your needs.

Find peace of mind and superior service with ConfidenceClub’s welcoming team of experts. There’s no need to navigate the journey of incontinence alone - with our commitment to personalised service and home delivery of great quality products, you’ll always be equipped for the days ahead.