Incontinence material: more than a sanitary towel

Urinary leakage is a topic that is not often discussed. Yet more than one million people are incontinent in the Netherlands. Fortunately, there are many different ways to manage urinary incontinence. But a panty liner or sanitary napkin will in any case not work. Sanitary pads are made for collecting blood and mucus and not so much for absorbing moisture. Urine collection materials contain super absorbent granules that quickly convert urine into a gel that is retained in the dressing. These granules are not present in sanitary towels.

Much or little urine loss?

With urinary incontinence it is very difficult to tell yourself how much you are losing. Someone who suffers from incipient leakage of urine probably already thinks that he or she has a big problem, when in reality it is a few drops that can be collected with the lightest incontinence materials. Often the degree of urine loss is divided into three forms:

• Are you losing drops or shoots? Then we speak of light urine loss.
• Do you lose spurts of urine, but can you still urinate when you go to the toilet? We call this moderate urine loss.
• If you empty your entire bladder, you have severe incontinence.

Absorbency

The absorption capacity is therefore important when choosing incontinence material: after all, you want to know how much moisture a product can absorb. Because that determines how well you are protected and how often you have to replace this protection. For light incontinence, material with less absorbency is sufficient. For heavier urine loss, you want something that is thicker and absorbs more fluid. Fortunately, incontinence material is available in different grades. Most incontinence products have a scale on the packaging that indicates how much urine it can absorb. It can also be stated in milliliters. The strongest diapers take up to 3 liters. The vast majority of people with incontinence need less capacity. They all trap moisture and any faeces, absorb them quickly and neutralize the odor, so you don’t have to worry about someone ‘smell’ you.

Light incontinence: pads

In case of light urine loss, you can use inserts that you wear in your underwear. Inserts are strips of moisture-absorbing material. They can be used loosely in well-fitting underpants or in special fixation pants. There are also inserts that are suitable for double incontinence.

Fixation pants

To be sure that the inserts stay in place, there are special fixation pants. These relatively tight underpants keep the insert in place, so that it is in the right place to absorb maximum moisture. When the correct insert and fixation pants are used, the risk of leakage is minimal.

Heavier forms of incontinence

For heavier urine loss or stool loss, you can use special incontinence briefs or pants. Such pants, also called pants, contain elastic just like your regular underpants. You can simply get in and out of it and it looks a lot like normal underwear. It is only a bit thicker because of the cotton wool that has been processed in it. They give a hygienic feeling, because they are torn off and thrown away after use. Incontinence briefs have adhesive strips that you have to attach around the hips. After use, they go in the trash. An advantage of such incontinence briefs is that you can make them as tight as necessary, which minimizes the risk of leakage.

Protection for the night

People who lose urine usually do so at night. That is why you also use special pants or inserts in bed. But because of the position in which we lie and the fact that we can sleep through the urge to urinate, accidents sometimes happen. There are several solutions, such as bed pads to protect the bed from urine. Because a mattress that is regularly peed on, wears out quickly and starts to smell bad. These bed pads are also called incontinence pads and are also used to protect a wheelchair or chair against moisture. You have variants for single use, but there are also washable pads available.

Cost of incontinence material

Incontinence materials are reimbursed under certain conditions from the basic insurance. Namely if:

• You have previously been treated for incontinence complaints, such as pipo-poli, pelvic physiotherapy and stepped care, and the complaints have not been reduced or resolved as a result of this treatment.
• You have to use incontinence material for a long time because of your incontinence complaints.
• The urine loss lasts longer than two months or if you suffer from stool loss for more than two weeks.

Before you receive incontinence material, an intake interview will take place with the supplier. Then you can be sure that you receive the right materials. It depends on which provider you can go to for each health insurer. You will also only be reimbursed for everything if you receive the incontinence material from a contracted supplier. If you choose a non-contracted supplier, this will affect your reimbursement. An excess does apply for incontinence material from the basic insurance.