Key Differences Between Men’s And Women’s Protective Undergarments And How To Choose
In many cases, urinary incontinence can be treatable with adjustments to the diet, medicine, and overall lifestyle. However, it does require proper management while it’s happening. That can typically only be achieved with well-designed protective undergarments.
Although urinary incontinence is often associated with the elderly, being more prevalent in women over the age of 70; specifically, it can affect any person of any age and gender. That’s why you’ll find many protective products designed specifically for men or women.
But is there any real difference between men’s and women’s products? Is it better to use unisex protective undergarments? Here are some differences between these products and what to consider when choosing the right option.
What are protective undergarments?
Protective undergarments like adult pullups are incontinence products made of highly absorbent materials. They’re designed to catch and contain bladder leaks, thus protecting your clothing, skin, and bedding from urinary leaks.
Unlike adult diapers, protective undergarments are made to look and feel similar to typical underwear. That makes them more comfortable to wear and less noticeable under tight clothing.
Types of protective undergarments
Incontinence products come in a wide variety of different shapes and sizes. Protective undergarments, specifically, come as:
- Adult pullups
- Protective briefs
Pull Ups are made of elastic material and can easily be slipped on or off, just like regular underwear. Briefs, on the other hand, look more similar to diapers, having adhesive or velcro tabs on either side to allow you to adjust their tightness.
Both pull-ups and briefs can either be disposable or reusable. Disposable undergarments are generally more convenient as you can throw them away as soon as you finish them. Reusable ones are often more budget- and eco-friendly but require frequent washing and could lose effectiveness over time.
Moreover, both undergarments can come in various absorbency levels – some designed for light to moderate leaking during exercise and others suitable for heavy leaking overnight.
In addition to protective undergarments, you can look at other incontinence products that might be more or less suitable, depending on your unique circumstances – pads, urethral inserts, condom catheters, and more.
Who needs to use them?
Protective underwear can be helpful for anyone with urinary incontinence as it helps prevent leaks and odors. It’s handy for those who are:
- Mobile – if you’re mobile and independent, protective underwear can be more comfortable to wear than adult diapers;
- Active – if you frequently exercise, wearing protective underwear can be more comfortable and less noticeable than other incontinence products;
- Have light to moderate leaking – while there are more absorbent protective undergarments, most are suitable for light to moderate leaking;
- Have frequent and unpredictable incontinence issues – protective underwear can keep you dry and protected even when you encounter incontinence issues when you least expect it.
Protective pads could be enough if you have infrequent and light incontinence issues. If you’re a caretaker for someone with more extensive incontinence issues, adult diapers might be a better option.
As mentioned, urinary incontinence can happen to anyone at any time. Some of the factors that can lead to it include:
- Age – older individuals are more likely to develop incontinence issues;
- Gender – incontinence is more prevalent among women;
- Pregnancy – pregnant women and those who’ve given birth are more likely to have incontinence;
- Weight – overweight individuals are at a higher risk of developing urinary incontinence;
- Health – some conditions, like diabetes, can lead to incontinence.
You should always consult your primary care physician when you encounter urinary incontinence. Whether it’s happened just once or is a recurring issue, your doctor could help you treat and manage it.
The differences between men’s and women’s protective undergarments
Unisex protective undergarments are generally the most popular and the most convenient option. However, you can find gender-specific products for urinary incontinence, and there are some differences between them that you should pay attention to when choosing.
1. Fit
Like regular underwear, men’s and women’s protective undergarments can have different fits. They’re designed to better suit male or female anatomy, commonly wider and offering more “breathing room” for men in the groin area and a more tight fit for women. Women’s protective undergarments also tend to be wider around the hips and slim down towards the waist (mimicking a pear shape), while men’s tend to have wider leg holes.
2. Absorbency areas
Unlike adult diapers with high absorbency, protective undergarments have specific absorbance areas. They’re designed to minimize the materials and make them less visible under clothing.
Men’s undergarments have higher absorbency towards the front. Women’s models, on the other hand, have higher absorbency in the central part and towards the back.
3. Overall style
Though most protective undergarments come in the standard white variety, there could be some differences in the overall style.
Gender-specific undergarments can frequently come in different colors and patterns – commonly floral, for instance, or pink for women and darker for men.
Things to keep in mind when choosing protective undergarments
Whether you go for the men’s, women’s, or unisex protective undergarments, there are a few essential things to keep in mind when selecting the right option for you:
- Absorbency – protective undergarments can be made for light, moderate, or heavy leakage, so you’ll want to choose appropriate absorbency levels for your needs;
- Comfort – it could take some trial and error, but it’s important to find comfortable undergarments that won’t irritate your skin;
- Odor retention – look for products that can reliably contain any potential odors;
- Longevity – look for products that can last up to 8 hours without requiring you to change.
Before committing, you can gather valuable insights by looking into a product’s user reviews. However, you’ll never truly know whether it will fit you before trying it out. So, it’s in your best interest to try a few different products and see which one suits you best.
Final thoughts
Though there aren’t many differences between men’s and women’s protective undergarments, the few that exist could have a massive impact on your comfort and leak protection. Still, the best way to know whether a product is right for you is by trying it out firsthand. So, test the different options, including unisex undergarments, and see which suits you best.
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