Disposable vs. Washable: Which is Best For Your Leaky Bladder?

When I got serious about triathlon training, I started working with a coach and running track.  That’s when my bladder leaks became a serious problem.  I couldn’t run a lap without soaking my shorts.  Rather than quit, I turned to the internet to find out what other active women with leaky bladders were doing about it.  What I found – or didn’t find – was surprising.  This common complaint was shared by women of all ages, fitness levels, and regardless of whether they’d borne children. Equally common was the frustration of wearing bulky pads that shift and bunch a mile into a run, settling for absorbent underwear meant for period protection, and worse, the sense that there was nothing to be done about it.  I tried everything too.  Nothing worked, so I gave up looking and instead launched Prickly Pear Sports – performance apparel for active women with leaky bladders. 

It was important to me to avoid disposables for environmental reasons.  But are washable products, in fact, more sustainable than single-use disposables? It’s tempting to declare washables the winner and call it a day. But it’s not that simple.  Let’s compare:

Disposables:  According to the EPA*, we toss 4.1 MILLION TONS of disposable diapers and adult incontinence products into our local landfills every year (EPA combines the two products).  That constitutes 1.4% of total MSW - municipal solid waste, aka trash. Here’s more:

·        Decomposition: it takes about 450 years for single-use disposables to decompose in a landfill.  They don’t biodegrade. 

·        Toxicity:  most mainstream incontinence products include fillers, plastics, latex, bleach, heavy metals, and other ingredients that slow decomposition.  (Do you want this stuff next to your most sensitive skin anyway?)

·        Recycling rate: pretty much non-existent. 

Washables:  We toss 13 MILLION TONS of clothing into our local landfills every year (EPA combines clothing and footwear), or 4.4% of total MSW.   

·        Decomposition:  it can take upwards of 200 years for textiles to decompose depending on the fiber type.  Cotton and other natural fibers, when composted, might take a few months to 5 years.  Synthetic fibers like polyester and elastane are derived from petroleum-based sources and don’t biodegrade, so they typically end up decomposing in a landfill for 200 years or more.  Yikes.

·        Toxicity:  Synthetic textiles release chemicals, like methane, into the air as they decompose. And the dyes and chemicals that are used to treat clothing can build up and potentially contaminate nearby groundwater and soils.

·        Recycling rate:  Our clothing recycling rate is a dismal 13%.  We are all familiar with the slogan: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. The order is important.  We first need to reduce our consumption, then reuse what we buy by wearing it out, donating, or repurposing it. If it has no more useful life, then recycling is far better than tossing it in the trash.  (Prickly Pear Sports has a take-back program.  We’ll recycle your PPS shorts or leggings when you’re done with them.)

So, what to do?  Let’s reduce the need for incontinence products in the first place!  We recommend consulting a urogynecologist, pelvic floor physical therapist, or another qualified healthcare professional who will take the time to diagnose the underlying cause of your bladder leaks and design a treatment program unique to you.  When I launched Prickly Pear Sports, I had no idea that such a discipline existed. Hooray for social media! Now I’ve connected with a large community of practitioners who help women like me to stop leaking.

Pelvic floor physical therapy was a game-changer for me and could be for you, too.  Whatever your situation, it is not too late - or too early - and you stand to gain a level of confidence and freedom you might not have thought possible.  It takes time, effort, and perhaps a bit of courage to engage in pelvic floor physical therapy, and you will experience bladder leaks along the way to your new pee-free life.  In the meantime, wear the product that will help you stay active.  Here’s what we recommend:

·        For minor to moderate leaks, give Prickly Pear Sports pee-proof shorts and leggings a try. Check out how they work here:  https://pricklypearsports.com/how-they-work 

·        If you’ve been using disposables, consider switching from the mass-marketed brands to Attn:Grace. This women-owned company offers a variety of best-in-class products that are sustainably designed, free of toxic chemicals, and body-friendly.  They are committed to reducing our global footprint and minimizing waste. Click here for more information:  https://attngrace.com/pages/ingredients       

·        If you are a heavy leaker looking for a washable product, check out Dri.run, a startup company out of the UK that is in the prototype development phase. We’re all about supporting women entrepreneurs in the incontinence products space and think they have a terrific concept.   https://www.instagram.com/dri.run/?hl=en 

·        Avoid using period underwear. Incontinence products are engineered to absorb a lot more liquid at a much faster rate than period products, and they’re designed to neutralize the acid in your urine so they’re better for your skin. And stay away from those leggings with the tiny terry cloth patch in the crotch.  Whoever designed those doesn’t understand female anatomy! 

Whatever you do, don’t let bladder leaks keep you sidelined.  Get out there and go the distance!

*EPA: Facts and Figures About Materials, Waste, and Recycling