Living with overactive bladder often means adapting your daily routine in ways you hadn’t anticipated. While you’re working on longer-term treatment strategies like bladder training, pelvic floor exercises, or medication, having the right products can make a real difference to your confidence and daily life.

I want to be clear about something: using continence products isn’t giving up on treatment. It’s practical management while other interventions take effect. Most OAB treatments need weeks or months to show results. In the meantime, life continues. You still need to work, socialise, travel, and sleep without constant anxiety about accidents.

This guide covers the main product categories that can help, with practical advice on choosing what might work for your situation.

Absorbent Products: Pads and Protective Underwear

Not everyone with OAB experiences leakage—urgency and frequency can exist without incontinence. But for those who do have accidents, absorbent products provide a safety net that allows you to get on with life.

The market has improved enormously over the past couple of decades. Modern continence products bear little resemblance to the bulky, crinkly pads of the past. Many are virtually invisible under normal clothing, and superabsorbent polymer technology keeps skin drier even when the product has absorbed a significant amount of fluid.

Types of Absorbent Products

Shaped pads are worn inside regular underwear. They’re secured with adhesive strips and come in a range of absorbency levels from light (for small leaks or dribbles) to heavy (for larger voids). Women’s pads tend to be wider at the back; men’s pads are shaped differently to accommodate anatomy. These work well for people with mild to moderate leakage who want to keep wearing their normal underwear.

All-in-one pants (also called pull-ups) combine the pad and underwear into a single disposable garment. You step into them like normal pants. They’re popular for people with more significant leakage, for nighttime use, or for those who find it easier to manage a single product rather than positioning a pad correctly.

Belted products use a belt around the waist with an absorbent pad attached. They can be useful for people with limited mobility who find pulling pants up and down difficult.

Reusable underwear with built-in absorbent layers offers an environmentally friendlier option. Quality has improved significantly, and some can absorb as much as disposable products. They need washing after use, which may be a consideration depending on your laundry situation and how often you change.

Choosing the Right Absorbency

Getting the absorbency level right matters more than brand, in my experience. Too little absorbency means products leak or need changing constantly. Too much means unnecessary bulk and expense.

A starting point: if you’re experiencing occasional small leaks when you don’t reach the toilet quite in time, light absorbency products may suffice. If you’re losing larger volumes or having complete voids, you’ll need moderate to heavy absorbency. Nighttime often requires higher absorbency than daytime because you can’t change products for seven or eight hours.

The NHS recommends that people try a few different products to find what works best for their situation 1. Most manufacturers offer sample packs, which is worth taking advantage of before committing to bulk purchases.

Fit Matters

Even the most absorbent product won’t work properly if it doesn’t fit. Gaps between the product and your body allow leakage around the edges. A product that’s too tight restricts movement and can cause skin irritation.

For shaped pads worn in regular underwear, the underwear itself needs to be snug enough to hold the pad in place. Loose boxer shorts generally don’t work well with pads. Some people find that switching to closer-fitting underwear specifically for use with pads makes a significant difference.

For all-in-one pants, measure your waist and hips and check against the manufacturer’s size guide. Sizes vary between brands, so don’t assume your usual clothing size translates directly.

Portable Urinals

When urgency strikes and no toilet is nearby, a portable urinal can be a genuine lifesaver. They’re commonly used for long car journeys, when mobility issues make reaching the toilet difficult, or for overnight use to avoid multiple trips to the bathroom.

Several designs exist:

Traditional bottle-style urinals are simple containers with a handle. Men’s versions have a wide opening designed for easy use; women’s versions either have a differently shaped opening or include an adapter funnel. These are inexpensive but need to be held upright and emptied after use.

Disposable urinal bags contain absorbent gel that solidifies liquid, eliminating spillage risk. You use them once and dispose of them sealed. They’re convenient for travel because there’s nothing to empty, and they pack flat. The downside is ongoing cost.

Collapsible urinals fold down small when not in use and expand when needed. They’re easier to carry discreetly than rigid containers but still need emptying.

For people dealing with nocturia—waking multiple times at night to urinate—having a urinal by the bed can reduce disruption and fall risk compared to navigating to the bathroom in the dark.

I’ll be honest: many people feel awkward about using portable urinals. But when the alternative is panic-searching for toilets or risking accidents, practicality tends to win out. They fit in a handbag or glove box without being obvious.

Bed Protection

Night-time leakage (nocturnal enuresis in medical terms) deserves its own consideration. Sleeping through until morning is hard enough for people with OAB; anxiety about wetting the bed makes it worse.

Waterproof mattress protectors are the foundation of nighttime protection. They prevent urine from reaching your mattress, which is both expensive to replace and difficult to clean. Modern versions are often quiet (no crinkling when you move) and breathable enough that they don’t make you overheat.

Options include:

Fitted sheet style protectors that cover the whole mattress
Flat pads that sit under the sheet and protect the central area
Disposable bed pads for travel or occasional use

If cost isn’t a major concern, fitted protectors that encase the entire mattress provide the most complete protection. But a well-positioned flat pad works well for most people with urinary incontinence.

Reusable bed pads with waterproof backing can be layered on top of the sheet. They’re absorbent, washable, and can be changed quickly if an accident occurs without having to remake the entire bed. Some people layer two pads so they can simply remove the wet one and have dry protection immediately available.

For people who sweat or find waterproof materials uncomfortable, mattress protectors with a cotton terry top layer offer more breathability while still providing protection underneath.

Skincare: An Often-Overlooked Essential

Prolonged contact between skin and urine causes problems. The skin in the groin area wasn’t designed for continuous moisture exposure, and damage can range from minor irritation to serious breakdown requiring medical treatment.

This issue has a proper medical name: incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD). Research suggests that between 25% and 50% of people using continence products experience some degree of skin damage 2. That’s a substantial number of people dealing with sore, inflamed skin on top of their bladder symptoms.

For detailed information on protecting your skin, see our article on continence-related skin problems. The key points:

Gentle cleansing: Use pH-balanced products specifically designed for incontinence care, or simply lukewarm water. Regular soap is too harsh. Pat dry rather than rubbing.

Barrier products: Creams and films that create a protective layer between skin and irritants. Options range from traditional zinc oxide creams to newer silicone-based barrier films. Apply after cleansing and before putting on fresh continence products.

Prompt changes: Don’t leave wet products against skin longer than necessary. Even the best absorbent products have limits, and prolonged wetness breaks down skin’s natural protection.

Look for changes: Redness, burning, or broken skin needs attention. Mild irritation often responds to consistent barrier cream use, but more severe problems may need prescription treatment.

Products for Managing Medication Side Effects

Many OAB medications—particularly the anticholinergic drugs like oxybutynin, tolterodine, and solifenacin—cause dry mouth as a side effect. For some people, this is mild and manageable. For others, it’s distressing enough to make them stop taking effective medication.

If dry mouth is affecting you, several products can help:

Saliva substitutes and mouth moisturisers: Available as sprays, gels, or lozenges. They provide temporary relief by coating and lubricating the mouth. Some people carry a small spray for use throughout the day.

Dry mouth toothpaste: Formulated without sodium lauryl sulphate (a foaming agent that can worsen dryness) and with added moisturisers.

Sugar-free chewing gum or lozenges: Stimulate natural saliva production. Xylitol-containing products are popular because xylitol doesn’t promote tooth decay the way sugar does.

Staying well hydrated helps too, though drinking more also means more urine production—a trade-off that people with OAB are all too aware of. Small, frequent sips throughout the day may work better than large drinks at once.

Finding the Right Toilet Quickly

When urgency is your main symptom, knowing where the nearest toilet is becomes a preoccupation. Several tools can help:

Toilet locator apps: Smartphone applications that map public toilets in your area. Some include user reviews and details about accessibility, opening hours, and whether you need to be a customer to use facilities.

RADAR keys: In the UK, many accessible toilets use a standardised lock that opens with a RADAR key (also called a National Key Scheme key). These are available for purchase by anyone with a health condition that affects their toilet needs. Having one provides access to thousands of locked accessible toilets in shopping centres, train stations, and public spaces.

Just Can’t Wait card: A discrete card that explains you have a medical condition requiring urgent toilet access. Showing it to staff can help when you need to use facilities that are normally customer-only or when there’s a queue. The Bladder & Bowel Community issues these cards.

None of these eliminate the anxiety entirely, but knowing you have options reduces the fear of being caught without access.

Practical Tips for Choosing Products

If you’re new to using continence products, the sheer number of options can feel overwhelming. Here’s what I’d suggest:

Start with samples: Most major manufacturers provide sample packs at low or no cost. Try several before buying in bulk.

Consider where and when you need protection: Your needs at work, during exercise, overnight, or while travelling may differ. Some people use different products for different situations.

Don’t be put off by first impressions: It can take a few tries to find products that fit properly and stay in place without feeling bulky. Initial awkwardness doesn’t mean they won’t work for you.

Factor in sustainability if it matters to you: Reusable products have higher upfront costs but lower ongoing expense and environmental impact. Disposables are more convenient but generate significant waste.

Check what’s available through the NHS: If you’re in the UK, the NHS can provide continence products through local continence services for those who qualify. The range may be more limited than what you can buy privately, but it significantly reduces cost.

When Products Aren’t Enough

If you’re finding that even with appropriate products, your OAB symptoms are significantly affecting your quality of life, it’s worth reviewing your treatment plan with your healthcare provider.

Products manage symptoms; they don’t treat the underlying condition. Treatments for OAB including behavioural therapies, medications, and advanced interventions like Botox can reduce urgency and frequency, potentially decreasing how much you rely on products.

Continence products are a tool, not a destination. They help you live well while working toward better bladder control.

Support and Resources

The Continence Support section of this website provides further information on managing incontinence, including treatment options and when to seek help.

For people in the UK, the Bladder & Bowel Community offers advice, information, and support for anyone affected by bladder or bowel problems. They can advise on product selection and help navigate NHS continence services.

Our OAB FAQ addresses common questions about overactive bladder, and the OAB diet guide covers dietary factors that can worsen or improve symptoms.

Managing OAB is rarely simple, but the right combination of treatment and practical products can give you back some control. The products exist to support you, not to define you.

References

NHS. Living with urinary incontinence. NHS
Beeckman D, et al. Incontinence-associated dermatitis: moving prevention forward. Wounds International. 2015. PubMed