Swimming with Incontinence: How to Enjoy the Pool or Beach with a Leaky Bladder
Written by TYE Medical on May 28th 2024
Most people love being near water during the hot months of summer. Relaxing by the pool or on the beach is a favorite summer pastime. But if you’re living with bladder incontinence, your favorite warm-weather activities may become a burden. The idea of wearing swimwear can cause anxiety as you consider the consequences of leaks and worry about disguising your incontinence products.
While these are legitimate concerns, swimming with incontinence while maintaining peace of mind is possible. Here are some tips for the best wet ‘n’ wild summer yet.
Don’t Stress About Small Leaks While Swimming
Light bladder leaks are no problem whether you’re swimming in the ocean or a pool. It’s completely harmless to yourself and others. Even people without incontinence empty their bladder in the ocean (not that it’s recommended).
In either case, it’s best to empty your bladder before entering the water. This will buy you some time without any concern about leaks. This is especially important when swimming in a pool. When urine mixes with chlorine it can irritate skin. Small leaks may not be an issue, but larger leaks can cause problems for yourself and others.
If your leaks are larger, it’s important not only to empty your bladder before swimming, but also to wear incontinence swimwear.
Buy Quality Incontinence Swimwear
It’s critical that you don’t wear any incontinence products into the water that aren’t specifically designed for that purpose. Typical incontinence aids are created to absorb liquid and will absorb the water around you until they burst or break. Remnants of the product can clog pool filters and be harmful to marine life if you’re swimming in the ocean. All of this can be quite embarrassing and is avoidable.
Instead, purchase incontinence swimwear that is specially made to wear in the water. Just be sure that the swim product is the right fit and absorbency level for you to prevent any unfortunate accidents. These products are made to absorb urine from the inside while not taking on water from the outside.
Just be sure to change out of your incontinence product for swimming when you leave the water. You can swap your swim product for your regular leak protection until you swim again.
Try Other Incontinence Devices for Swimming
You may prefer to temporarily use an incontinence device while swimming. The two common devices are the pessary (for women) and the penile cuff (for men).
The pessary device is inserted into a woman’s vagina and applies pressure against the urethra, stemming the flow of urine. It’s like a tampon but serves a different purpose. It isn’t suitable for everyone and may be too uncomfortable, especially at first. Some women prefer this because it’s discreet and simple. A pessary temporarily reduces leaks to a minimum and gives you great freedom while swimming.
The penile cuff compresses a man’s urethra so that little to no urine passes through. It is placed about halfway down the penis, and similar to the pessary, greatly reduces the flow of urine. But these should only be used on a short-term basis and must be released every one to two hours, according to the manufacturer.
This device isn’t for everyone, even though most men report that after the initial adjustment period, they became accustomed to the device and found it relatively comfortable. For some men, using the device is preferable to not swimming or dealing with incontinence swimwear.
Both the pessary and penial cuff have side effects if you wear them too long or don’t use them correctly. Before using them, get some advice from your primary care doctor or your urologist.
Watch What You Eat and Drink Before Swimming
Before and during your pool or beach outing, you want to avoid irritating your bladder with foods and beverages that aren’t agreeable. Bladder irritation can make bladder leaks worse or cause overactive bladder.
Before and during your water activities, avoid caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, and acidic foods. Instead, stay hydrated with water and opt for snacks that are easier on your bladder. This will ensure you stay comfortable and don’t experience unnecessary bladder leaks while swimming or relaxing by the water.
Enjoy Your Summer (Even with Incontinence)
Incontinence doesn’t mean you must stop living. Summers can still be an enjoyable and memorable time of the year. But a fantastic summer requires some planning ahead and maybe even a few changes to the norm. But we’re confident it will be worth the effort as you enjoy a relaxed and fun summer.
