What is incontinence?
Incontinence refers to the loss of bladder or bowel control, leading to involuntary leakage1.
It can be temporary or long-term and may range from occasional leaks to a complete inability to control urination or bowel movements.
In Australia, one in four people aged 15 years old and over have incontinence, affecting both men and women of all ages3.
What causes incontinence?
- Being pregnant or having ever been pregnant
- Menopause
- Some medicines
- Having a condition that affects your nerves or muscles
- Being constipated
If the cause of incontinence is unclear, your doctor will ask about your symptoms and how they impact your life1. They may also perform a physical examination to determine the cause.
Choosing the right continence product for you
Style
The choice of the continence aid should be based on your mobility and individual needs. If you are active, most continence aids styles are suitable such as Pads and Pants. If you are active with restricted mobility and/or have cognitive difficulties (e.g . Dementia), pull-ups are ideal as they feel like regular underwear. An all–in–one continence aid is recommended if you are restricted in mobility and/or bedbound.
Absorbency
Continence aids contain absorbent material to manage different levels of urine loss. To ensure the right level of protection, choose an absorbency that matches your incontinence needs. Look for the drop rating on the incontinence aid packaging. MoliCare, for example, have a drop rating on the pack, with one being less absorbent and 10 being the most absorbent. The higher the number of drops, the more absorbent the incontinence aid.
Size
Leakage and discomfort may occur if a continence aid is too big or too small. To find the right size, measure the widest part between your waist and hips, and select the product size based on the size guide provided on the pack.
Discover the new generation MoliCare Premium Mobile range. Available in a range of sizes with absorbency levels of 6, 8, or 10 drops, these pull-up pants are designed to offer discreet and secure leakage protection for people with moderate to severe incontinence.
Next steps
We understand that incontinence can be a sensitive topic. The team at your local Blooms The Chemist pharmacy is here to provide expert advice and can support in recommending the right products for your needs. By taking small steps and finding the right support, you can regain confidence and live worry-free.
This is a sponsored article in partnership with MoliCare. You can find more of their products here.
References:
1Healthdirect, Incontinence – an overview, accessed 20 February 2025
2Continence Foundation of Australia, What is incontinence? | The Facts | Continence Foundation of Australia, accessed 25 February 2025
3MoliCare, 3 easy steps to select the right pad, accessed 20 February 2025
4Claims List , V&V of PR Design Traceability File Mobile_TC_100252713 and TC_100368220
5Beeckman D et al. Proceedings of the Global IAD Expert Panel. Incontinence associated dermatitis: moving prevention forward. WoundsInternational 2015.
6New product design shows comparable performance compared to last generation. Data on file: Blind-Monadic-Test Report 2024.