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If you’ve ever experienced a bladder leak in public, or you’re worried about the possibility, you’re certainly not alone.
As the NHS tells us, millions of people in the UK experience some degree of urinary incontinence, a condition that becomes more common with age.
But you don’t need to have an ongoing incontinence issue to experience a bladder leak. For example, certain medications and urinary tract infections (UTIs) can cause leaks, among other things.
So, to help you feel calmer and more confident in public, we’ve teamed up with Incontinence Choice, a leading provider of incontinence products, to bring you some advice for coping with a bladder leak in public.
We’ll explore how to prepare for bladder leaks and minimise your chances of having one, and suggest some tips for coping with one if you do.
How to prepare for bladder leaks in public
When it comes to bladder leaks, it’s always best to be proactive instead of reactive – and there are plenty of things you can do to prepare. For example, you can…
Wear incontinence products
There’s a range of products on the market specially designed to soak up bladder leaks. These include pads, which sit inside your underwear, and pull-up pants, which are effectively underwear made of absorbent materials. The product that’s best for you will depend on your situation.
Pads are helpful for those who experience multiple leaks throughout the day, spend lots of time out of the house, or have limited mobility. This is because they’re easy to change.
Pants, on the other hand, are generally better suited to people who experience more infrequent but severe leaks. This is because they’re larger and can be more challenging and take longer to change. They also have a more streamlined and secure design, making them suitable to wear under tight-fitting clothes or while exercising. Incontinence Choice even has a range designed especially for exercise.
If you’re interested in pads, pull-up pants, or any other incontinence products, it’s worth checking out Incontinence Choice’s range. They offer some of the same brands you see in pharmacies and supermarkets but at a reduced price.
Carry things like wet wipes and a toilet card
As well as keeping a spare change of clothes in your bag, there are plenty of things you can carry around that may come in handy if you have a bladder leak. For example, these travel wet wipes are ideal for cleaning intimate areas after an accident because they’re kind to skin, safe to flush, and can fit neatly in your pocket.
Another useful item to have on hand if you’re concerned about bladder leaks in public is this toilet card. It features a message and the universally recognised WC symbol, which can help you discreetly communicate to someone that you need to use the toilet. This is particularly helpful if there’s no public loo nearby and you need to ask in a shop or restaurant.
You could also take a RADAR toilet key out with you, which can grant you access to 9,000 disabled toilets across the UK. If you’re interested in a toilet card and a RADAR key, you can get them as part of a set on the Incontinence Choice website using the button below.
Take preventative measures
In addition to preparing for bladder leaks, there are also plenty of steps you can take to minimise your chances of having one in the first place. For example, you can avoid bladder-irritating foods, focus on staying reasonably hydrated, and do exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor.
To find out more about these preventative measures, take a look at our guide to managing incontinence in daily life. And for more advice on pelvic floor exercises, check out the video below from Incontinence Choice.
7 tips for coping with bladder leaks in public
As we’ve mentioned, preparing for bladder leaks is one of the best things we can do to ease our anxiety about having an accident in public. However, as with anything in life, we can’t always be prepared – and we might find ourselves caught off-guard. But thinking about what we can do in this situation can be helpful to provide some peace of mind.
Below, you’ll find some tips for what to do if you experience a bladder leak in public.
1. Take some deep breaths
It’s completely natural to feel stressed or embarrassed if you experience a bladder leak in public.
However, it’s worth remembering that the more flustered we get, the more stressed we can become. With this in mind, if you have a leak, start by taking a few deep breaths if possible.
Taking just a couple of deep breaths before you consider your options can work wonders to clear your head and help you feel calmer. Experts recommend the 5-2-7 breathing approach, as it’s proven to be particularly effective.
It works by inhaling for five seconds, holding your breath for two seconds, exhaling for seven seconds, and repeating.
With that said, if you experience a bladder leak in public, you might not find yourself in a situation where you can spend two minutes doing this exercise. In this case, taking just a few slow, deep breaths can be useful before deciding what to do next.
For more ideas for deep breathing exercises, you might want to read our article on the subject.
2. Tie a jacket or jumper around your waist
While urinary incontinence is nothing to be embarrassed about, we often can’t control how we feel, and the prospect of somebody noticing that you’ve experienced a bladder leak might increase your anxiety.
One simple thing you can do to help with this is to tie a jacket or jumper around your waist to cover up any marks until you can find a place to clean up. If you don’t have a jumper or jacket, but you’re with someone you trust who does, you could consider asking to borrow theirs.
The lack of conversation surrounding urinary incontinence can often lead people to feel like others don’t experience leaks, making the idea of someone seeing yours seem more embarrassing.
However, as we’ve mentioned, millions of people in the UK struggle with urinary incontinence. So, not only is it much more common than many of us think, but people are generally much more understanding and sympathetic to bladder leaks than we might believe.
3. Find somewhere out of sight
Before you find a suitable place to clean up, moving to a temporary, out-of-sight spot can be helpful – whether around a corner or to an empty room.
Moving somewhere out of sight can give you a moment to yourself without worrying about someone seeing you. If you’re feeling stressed, this might be a good time to take a few deep breaths if you haven’t already and to work out where the closest bathroom is.
When on the move, it’s important to try to walk instead of running. Not only can running draw more attention to us and increase our risk of injury, but it can also lead to further leakage. This is because, when we run, we put added pressure on our pelvic floor muscles and bladder.
4. Let someone know you’re leaving
If you experience a bladder leak while with others, it can be tempting to rush off without a word for fear of embarrassment. But you might want to consider letting someone know you’re stepping away.
Leaving without telling anyone might cause your companions to worry about you, which can make you feel pressured to return quickly and add stress. Therefore, quietly letting one person know you’re stepping away can be a good idea as they can put anyone else’s mind at ease if they ask where you’ve gone.
If you don’t feel comfortable sharing your situation with anyone you’re with, that’s also okay. You could simply say that you need to step out, without going into any specifics.
5. Use toilet-finding apps
If you’re somewhere with toilets – like a restaurant or the cinema – you might already know where they are or be able to find them easily. However, if not, the prospect of getting to the closest public loos can be daunting. Luckily, there are plenty of apps designed to help with this.
For iPhone users, why not try Flush Toilet Finder & Map? This free app works with your iPhone’s map capabilities to help you find all the closest public loos. It’ll even let you know whether you need to pay to use it or if it has disabled access. For Android users, why not try the Where is Public Toilet app instead?
6. Rinse clothes with water and dry them thoroughly
Once in the bathroom, it’s a good idea to wash the affected area of your clothes with water first. This will help rinse the urine out of the fabric, eliminating any odour and reducing the chances of it leaving a mark when it dries. Be careful only to wet the urine-soaked areas, as this will limit the time and effort needed to dry your garment afterwards.
Once rinsed thoroughly, you can try to dry the area with whatever’s at hand – either by dabbing it with toilet roll or paper towels or running it under a hand dryer. Be sure to dry your clothes as best you can to avoid your skin becoming irritated or cold.
Depending on your situation, you might also want to wipe yourself down. While you can use a damp paper towel for this, it’s best to use wet wipes. And, if you’re still worried about odours, you could spray your clothes with body spray, cologne, or perfume if you have it with you.
7. Consider texting or calling a loved one
When it comes to bladder leaks, every situation is different. For example, some bladder leaks might be relatively minor. In these cases, you might feel comfortable cleaning up and returning to whatever you were doing or heading straight home. However, in other cases, you might want to consider texting or calling a loved one to help you.
Experiencing a bladder leak in public can be distressing, and having someone with you can offer comfort. Not only can your friend or family member provide emotional support, but they can also help with practical things – such as driving you home or bringing you a spare change of clothes.
When we’re embarrassed, we often try to fix the problem by ourselves – but it’s important not to underestimate the power of having a shoulder to lean on in times like these.
However, we know that confiding in a friend or family member about incontinence issues can be daunting, especially at short notice. So, if you’re worried about experiencing a bladder leak in public, sharing your concerns with them beforehand can be helpful. This way, you can spend some time thinking about how to approach the subject, and they won’t be surprised if they receive a call from you in future.
Despite millions of people experiencing incontinence, it’s still a taboo subject in our society, so talking about it with a friend can also help to break down the stigma. And you might find it beneficial in other ways. As psychiatrist Dr Mark Duncan says, “Just telling someone else about [an..] embarrassing issue can help reduce the stress of dealing with it alone.”
Plus, who knows? Maybe confiding in a friend will open the door for them to talk about their own incontinence issues – or another issue entirely.
Final thoughts…
Whether you have an ongoing incontinence issue or not, we know that the possibility of experiencing a bladder leak in public can be worrisome. However, spending time thinking about how you would deal with it can alleviate some anxiety.
And while we hope you’ve found our tips helpful, the most important thing to remember is to be gentle with yourself. Millions of people experience some sort of incontinence, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of, so try to treat yourself with the same compassion and understanding as you would others.
For more advice, you might want to read our articles on living with incontinence in daily life and urinary incontinence in men. And to shop for incontinence products, head over to the Incontinence Choice website using the button below.
Do you have any tips for dealing with a bladder leak in public? If so, we’re interested in hearing your thoughts in the comments below.