While we all want to be leak free, it takes a while to get there.  Strengthening your pelvic floor muscles, losing weight, or even having surgery all take time.  Managing your leaking while you are making these important changes is key. Winter clothing makes it easier to hide leaking while managing it in the summer can be more of a challenge.  Here are a few tips to help you manage leaking while you are rocking your shorts during the hot summer months!

Tips to help manage leaking in the summer

1. Consider incontinence underwear- There are lots of different brands out there that you can try.  Incontinence underwear hold quite a bit of fluid, look like normal underwear, and don’t have the bulk of a pad.  They come in all different styles, even thongs.  I really like the brand ONDR but am a little biased because it is owned by a friend of mine, Jessica Lubahn.
2. Know how much volume your pad holds- different pads hold different amounts. Some small pads can hold a lot.  If you need a pad that holds more, do a little research before just getting a bigger pad.  Each pad website has details on how much the pads hold.  Check out the product selector on the poise website as an example.
3. Consider a pessary. An incontinence pessary is a device that fits in the vagina and helps minimize leaking.  This treatment may NOT seem like a permanent solution to you, but what if stops leaking while you are in your bathing suit?  It might be worth trying while you are working on your pelvic floor strength.  You can find more information on pessaries here.
4. Consider a urethral seal- This is a device that you place over the urethra to block leaking. You aren’t supposed to wear it while swimming.  It is small and most women find it comfortable.  This could give you some extra confidence if you are worried about leaking in a great new summer outfit.  The only currently available urethral seal is the finesse.
5. Pay attention to your skin- Summer weather and leaking can cause sensitivity in the vulva.  It may even cause rashes.  If this happens and you are wearing pads, look for pads for sensitive skin.  Or you can consider putting a barrier cream (like petroleum jelly) on the tissue to protect it.  If there is anything concerning or it does not improve, make sure to check it out with your provider.
6. Incontinence swimsuit- There are some incontinence swimsuits out there but it can be hard to find a cute one.  Ruby love has some suits made to wear during your period.  While the technology to hold blood and urine is different, I think these suits are worth a try.  They have lots of cute one too!