Incontinence Pull Ups: Pros, Cons and Alternatives

Incontinence pull ups will be a familiar product to most of us; they’re usually in the same aisle as feminine hygiene products at the drugstore. 

But odds are most of us associate adult pull ups with “women of a certain age” and don’t really think about how they might pertain to us, why they might be necessary, or if there are better alternatives.

Until—that is—you experience incontinence. This is something that can affect women (and men) of any age and for many different reasons. Let’s take some time to better understand incontinence and how products such as pull ups, adult diapers, and absorbent underwear can help.

What Is Incontinence?

Incontinence is not a “male” or “female” problem. But something that can impact any person at any time of their lives for many different reasons. Indeed, according to the Urology Care Foundation, “a quarter to a third of men and women in the U.S. suffer from urinary incontinence.”

Incontinence affects women more for 2 main reasons:

1. Women have a shorter urethra
2. Those who have been through childbirth may have weakened muscle support in the bladder and urethra

The 5 Major Types of Female Incontinence

Risk Factors for Incontinence

According to WebMD, “The rates of urinary incontinence increase with age: 20%-30% of young women, 30%-40% of middle-aged women, and up to 50% of older women suffer from urinary incontinence.” If you are among them, you shouldn’t blame yourself. Being a woman does put you at greater risk. Your age also puts you at greater likelihood.

In addition to these factors, incontinence risk factors include:

• Being overweight
• Smoking
• Family history
• Other diseases (e.g., diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease)
• Having been through pregnancy and childbirth
• Having undergone certain pelvic surgeries (e.g., hysterectomy)
• Dementia 

Adult Pull Ups and Incontinence

An astounding 50% of people who experience incontinence do not seek medical advice. It is important to talk to your doctor if you experience incontinence as they’ll want to diagnose the kind of incontinence you have, as well as rule out more serious concerns.

While you work with your healthcare provider to understand what kind of incontinence you have and your treatment options, it’s likely you’ll want some lifestyle products to help manage the immediate reality of dealing with urine leaks. This is when many people turn to pull up diapers. Adult pull up diapers are among the most popular incontinence products and are worn as an alternative to normal underwear.

Popular brands of adult pull ups (also referred to as disposable incontinence pants) include Tena, Depend and Prevail, though there are many other adult protective underwear options on the market. These products come in styles for both men and women. They are disposable underwear, but increasingly designed to look and feel like other full-body underwear. You may find breathable fabric, cloth-like materials, and curved leg elastics in incontinence underwear. 

In general, adult pull on diapers offer excellent protection (including overnight protection) and odor control from bladder leaks and fecal incontinence (a.k.a. bowel incontinence) to heavy incontinence and moderate incontinence. They come in a wide range of fits to suit any body type, hip or waist size.  

However, there are pros and cons of every product...

Pros and Cons of Adult Pull Up Diapers

Pull up diapers can offer excellent leak protection from light bladder leaks, but they might not be the right product for everyone. Let’s look closer at the pros and cons of disposable pull ups:

Pros of Pull Up Diapers

• Generally, disposable briefs offer excellent protection compared to traditional underwear
• Disposable briefs seal away moisture in an absorbent core, preventing irritation and odor
• Adult pull on diapers come in a variety of absorbency levels

Cons of Pull Up Diapers

• Pull ups are disposable products, which creates a lot of waste and ongoing expense for the wearer
• Although designs have come a long way, adult pull ups are still bulkier than regular underwear
• Pull ups may feel “diaper-like” on the body, which can lead to self-consciousness about wearing certain clothing
• Adult pull ups may make a rustling sound when you wear them
• Plastic pieces of pull up underwear can be uncomfortable or cause skin irritation around leg openings and elsewhere
• Adult pull ups are not stylish

Alternatives to Adult Diapers

If you find yourself wishing that there was a more “underwear-like” alternative to pull-ups, you’re in luck. Absorbent underwear is a great option. Protective underwear looks like regular underwear while filling the same need as pull up underwear.   

Further, super absorbent Knix leakproof underwear can be washed like regular underwear and reworn. This means less expense over time buying costly disposable products. Plus, you’ll create less waste and environmental damage by wearing protective underwear that you can wash and wear time and time again, just like normal underwear.

Protective Underwear Can Be a Game Changer

Products like protective underwear can be a game changer for those experiencing incontinence, allowing them to remain active and social while exploring treatment options.

Of course, protective underwear isn't a cure. It’s still important to talk to your doctor about your experience. They’ll likely recommend a treatment plan that includes pelvic floor exercises, lifestyle changes, and other medical treatments (even surgery).

6 More Things You Can Do to Help Urinary Incontinence

1. Reduce Your Risk Factors

Urinary incontinence affects a great number of women, at every age, life stage, and with all kinds of medical history. A lot of the risk factors (e.g., past pregnancy and childbirth trauma, or surgical history) are not things you can impact.

However, some of the risk factors can be addressed with lifestyle changes. These include:

• Maintaining a healthy body weight
• Quitting smoking

2. Adjust Your Diet and Beverage Intake

The following foods and beverages can irritate the bladder, causing involuntary urine leakage:

• Sweeteners, including corn syrup, honey, and artificial sweeteners
• Spicy foods
• Acidic foods, like citrus fruits and tomatoes

Beverages to avoid include:

• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Carbonated beverages

If you’re not ready to abstain completely from these foods and drinks, be more mindful when and where you consume them, especially closer to bedtime.

3. Try Pelvic Floor Muscle Training to Strengthen Pelvic Floor Muscles

Pelvic floor exercises strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which support the uterus, bladder, small intestine, and rectum. Kegel or pelvic floor exercises can be done any time, either sitting or lying down.You can even do them when you are eating, sitting at your desk, or when you are resting.

4. Take Preventative Measures Against Urinary Tract Infections

Incontinence is one symptom of urinary tract infection (UTI). Another symptom is a stinging or burning sensation when you pee and a decreased or irregular flow of urine. If you experience this, you should visit your doctor. UTIs are treated with antibiotics for 3 to 7 days. 

Ways to prevent UTIs include:

• Drink plenty of water
• Urinate before and after having sex
• Wipe from front to back after you pee
• Wear breathable, natural underwear and clothing, changing your underwear daily

5. Eat Plenty of Fiber to Avoid Constipation

Straining on the toilet can weaken (or further weaken) your pelvic floor muscles. So, it’s best to make sure your diet is rich in fiber to avoid constipation. Exercise (even the gentlest of walks done regularly) can also help prevent constipation.

6. Try Bladder Training and/or Double Voiding

Bladder training involves taking bathroom breaks at regularly timed intervals. By ensuring your bladder is emptied frequently, you minimize the chances of leakages. Over time, the duration of time between breaks can be increased. 

You can also try double voiding: Before bedtime, go to the bathroom, wait 10 minutes (perhaps brush your teeth etc. in the interim), and then pee again. Using the bathroom several times before bed will help ensure your bladder is empty.

Written by Jane Flanagan — Updated on March 5, 2023.

We hope you found this post informative — but remember: we’re not doctors and this post is not medical advice! While all posts are fact-checked and well researched, we always recommend you chat with your doctor about any questions or concerns you might have regarding a medical condition. We’re here to support and educate, but never with the aim of disregarding professional medical advice you’ve been given. Phew, now that that’s out of the way, you can go on living unapologetically free.