An incontinence pad is a small impermeable multi-layered sheet with high absorbency that is used in the health-care industry. The term can also used to refer to what are more correctly known as Incontinence Diapers. Actual incontinence pads are usually placed on a bed or chair under a patient as a precaution against incontinence

Urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence is any involuntary leakage of urine. It is a common and distressing problem, which may have a profound impact on quality of life. Urinary incontinence almost always results from an underlying treatable medical condition but is under-reported to medical practitioners...

. Incontinence pads can either be reusable and laundered to use many times, or disposable. Most institutions prefer the use once and throw away disposable type. They are also sometimes used (incorrectly) as a patient-transfer device.

Incontinence pads are manufactured in light and heavy grades. The light grades can be manufactured worldwide, but heavy grades are too bulky to make long-distance transport economic. Therefore most developed countries are likely to maintain facilities for manufacturing heavy incontinence pads.

Unlike sanitary napkins that are used to soak up the blood that comes out of a woman's vagina, an incontinence pad can be used by men and women to absorb urine

Urine

Urine is a typically sterile liquid by-product of the body that is secreted by the kidneys through a process called urination and excreted through the urethra. Cellular metabolism generates numerous by-products, many rich in nitrogen, that require elimination from the bloodstream...

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These sorts of pads can come as panty-liners, inserts, pads or even as replacement underwear.

Some companies that make incontinence pads are Kimberly-Clark Worldwide (maker of Poise brand), Depend

Depend

Depend is a brand of unisex adult underwear for those experiencing urinary or fecal incontinence by Kimberly-Clark. They were first introduced in 1984....

, Hartmann's, Stayfree Libra and Conni.