Living With Incontinence

If you, or a dependent, suffer from any form of incontinence, seek treatment as soon as possible. Speak to your GP to determine the origin of the incontinence and the best programme of treatment.

Whilst undergoing treatment for incontinence, there are many techniques and products available to improve your quality of life. Some of which are available on prescription.

Lifestyle Changes to Help You Live with Incontinence

These lifestyle changes aim to make you more resilient to episodes of incontinence:

• The 'Quick Flick' technique (for urinary incontinence) - When you feel the urge to urinate, the 'Quick Flick' technique can be applied. Contract the pelvic floor muscles quickly 3-5 times, taking slow deep breaths whilst you do so. This should reduce the need to urinate so you can hold off going to the toilet for longer intervals.
• 'The Knack' manoeuvre (for urinary incontinence) - When you are about to cough or sneeze, apply 'The Knack' manoeuvre. This is the conscious contraction of the pelvic floor muscles before and during your bladder being put under stress. This prevents the urethra and bottom of the bladder from descending which can lead to incontinence. You may need supervision and training to learn how to make this most effective. When done correctly, it is proven to be 98.2% effective with a medium cough and 73.3% with a particularly deep cough. Watch how to do The Knack to stop bladder leaks instantly.
• Diet changes (for urinary incontinence) - Avoid foods and drinks which act as diuretics, causing your kidneys to produce more urine. This includes avoiding caffeine and alcohol.
• Diet changes (for bowel incontinence) - Review your diet to make sure you reduce your risk of developing diarrhoea or constipation.
• Ask for support - If you are suffering from functional incontinence, as a result of a physical or psychological issue preventing you from using the bathroom, ask for support. This can be to improve the accessibility of the bathroom or for a carer to be regularly available for you to use it.
• Wear easy to remove clothing - If clothing has become a barrier, due to an issue with undoing buttons and zips on trousers for example, there are garments available that are easy to remove and put back on. They are often elasticated and lightweight.
• Toilet visits (for flatus incontinence) - If you suffer from uncontrollable wind (flatus incontinence), you may find visiting the toilet often to expel gas, can reduce the risk of passing gas in from of friends and colleagues. Also have a look at My Shreddies Flatus Filtering Underwear, flatus filtering underwear to control odour. Avoid sitting on the toilet and urinating at the same time - as you can inadvertently train yourself to have the urge to urinate more often, even when you don't have a full bladder.

Products to Help You Live with Incontinence

Incontinence products can improve your quality of life, and can be used as a short term solution to incontinence whilst you treat the original causes:

• Vaginal pessary for stress incontinence (women only) - These silicone or rubber devices are fitted high into your vagina to support your bladder, urethra and other pelvic organs. They are useful in preventing incontinence when you laugh or cough, by reducing the effect of the intra-abdominal pressure. There are different pessaries available to suit different severities of incontinence, whether you are also suffering from a Pelvic Organ Prolapse and if you are sexually active.

• Absorbent washable and reusable incontinence pads and underwear - Both reusable and disposable underwear is available to absorb liquid (both urine and liquid stools). They have a hydrophobic layer which draws the liquid into the pad away from your skin. Suitable for urinary incontinence and mild bowel incontinence.  See Protech Dry for Women and ProTech Dry for Men.
• Skincare and hygiene products - To protect the skin around your urethra and anus from the effects of leaks, there are a range of products which reduce irritation and soreness. Zinc oxide barrier creams and ointments (typically containing 10–20%+ zinc oxide) are highly effective for managing incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) and protecting sensitive skin from moisture damage. These incontinence skin care creams create a water-repellent barrier that shields against urine and irritation, helping to reduce redness, soothe sore skin, and prevent further breakdown. Widely recommended for skin protection in incontinence, zinc creams are an essential solution for maintaining healthy, resilient skin.
• Catheters,  penile sheaths & penile clamps - If you suffer from overflow incontinence and often find it difficult to fully empty your bladder, you can use an intermittent catheter or penile sheath to drain your bladder. If you dribble and leak, a super- comfortable penile clamp will give you the freedom to stay active and dry.
• Specially adapted clothing - If you suffer from functional incontinence ,  you may find it difficult to remove your clothes in time to reach the toilet and you may benefit from more easily removable clothing. Usually elasticated and lightweight, these items can be taken off without needing to undo any buttons or zips. 
• Anti-Flatulence Underwear for Men & Women - My Shreddies® flatus-filtering underwear, available at Kegel8, is designed to discreetly manage unwanted gas and odour using a unique built-in carbon filter. Offering a comfortable, reusable, and eco-friendly solution, this innovative underwear helps maintain confidence in everyday situations without the need for disposable products. Ideal for those seeking reliable, discreet protection, Shreddies® underwear supports a more confident and worry-free lifestyle.
• Tampons (for urinary incontinence) - It may seem odd, but wearing a large tampon in your vagina can put pressure on the neck of the bladder to stop leaks. However, they should not be used as a routine solution. See our range of Contam Pessaries for Incontinence.
• Anal plugs or anal inserst (for faecal incontinence) Designed for discreet and effective bowel control, and typically made from soft foam or silicone may include a string for easy removal, similar to a tampon. These devices can be worn for up to 12 hours and work by gently expanding in response to moisture, helping to create a seal that prevents stool leakage and reduces odour. Unlike faecal incontinence pads, which mainly absorb and contain leakage, anal inserts are specifically designed to prevent bowel leakage at the source, supporting greater confidence in public and daily life. While research is still limited, studies suggest that many users experience a significant reduction in leakage and report satisfaction with continued use, although some may experience mild discomfort or awareness of the device.

Speak to your GP or specialist continence adviser about which products are available on prescription.

Sources

Al-Shaikh, G. Syed, S. Osman, S. Bogis, A. Al-Badr, A. (2018). International Journal of Women's Health. Pessary use in stress urinary incontinence: a review of advantages, complications, patient satisfaction, and quality of life. [online] 10(1), p195-201. [viewed 13/11/2024]. Available from: https://www.dovepress.com/pessary-use-in-stress-urinary-incontinence-a-review-of-advantages-comp-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJWH

Bladder and Bowel Support Company (2024). Factsheet: Faecal Incontinence. [online] Bladder and Bowel Community, 2024. [viewed 13/11/2024]. Available from: https://www.bladderandbowel.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/BBC017_Faecal-Incontinence.pdf

Bladder and Bowel Support Company (2024). FREE Just Can’t Wait Toilet App. [online] Bladder and Bowel Community, 2024. [viewed 13/11/2024]. Download from: https://www.bladderandbowel.org/free-just-cant-wait-card/

Carter, D. (2014). Gastroenterology. Conservative treatment for anal incontinence. [online] 2(2), p85-91. [viewed 21/04/2026]. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4020129/

Gonçalves Correia, S. (2008) Urinary incontinence and overactive bladder in the non-institutionalized Portuguese population: national survey and methodological issues.[online] Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto [viewed 13/11/2024] Available from: https://repositorio-aberto.up.pt/bitstream/10216/21944/5/MEpiscorreia200811Tese.pdf

Maternik, M. Krzeminska, K. Zurowska, A. (2015). Pediatric Nephrology (Berlin, Germany). The management of childhood urinary incontinence. [online] 30(1), p41-50. [viewed 13/11/2024]. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4240910/#!po=59.3750

NHS Trust. (June 2023). Urinary incontinence: Incontinence products. [online] NHS Trust, 2023. [viewed 13/11/2024] Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/urinary-incontinence/incontinence-products/

NHS Trust. (June 2023). Urinary incontinence: Overview. [online] NHS Trust, June 2023. [viewed 13/11/2024] Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/urinary-incontinence/

Price, N. Dawood, R. Jackson, S. R. (2010). Maturitas. Pelvic floor exercise for urinary incontinence: A systematic literature review. [online] 67(4), p309-315. [viewed 13/11/2024]. Available from: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/elvic-floor-exercise-for-urinary-incontinence-%3A-A-Price-Dawood/189c3b354e250e621df819c4dc96ddece0f835ac?p2df