Poise is a range of pads and liners for women, and it is easiest to read once you know three things: whether it is a liner or a pad, the absorbency word on the pack, and the length. This guide goes through each of them, plus thin and overnight options and the point where a pad stops being the right tool.
What the line covers: pads and liners for women
Poise is made for women's bladder leaks and covers two product types, liners and pads. Pads are sold in different absorbencies and lengths, and there are overnight versions.
The titles carry the key facts. In Poise Pads for Women, Maximum Absorbency, Long, 84 Count, Pads is the type, Maximum Absorbency is the level, Long is the length and 84 Count is the pack. In Poise Overnight Incontinence Pads for Women, Extra-Coverage, 36 Count, Overnight is the use and Extra-Coverage is the manufacturer's coverage wording.
Liners vs pads
The difference is thickness and capacity. A liner is the thinnest option and is meant for very light leaks, and a pad holds more. Both are held in your own underwear by an adhesive strip, and the pack shows the placement.
A simple test is to look at a liner when you change it. If the wet area has reached the edges, or the surface still feels damp against you, try a pad at the lowest absorbency level before going any higher.
How absorbency levels are labelled
Poise states absorbency in words, such as Maximum Absorbency in the example above. Light, moderate and maximum are common labels on pad packs, and some ranges go beyond maximum with a label such as ultimate. There is no shared scale across makers, so a level only means something within one brand. Many pad packs also print a row of droplets or a number beside the word. If yours does, use the legend on that pack to see where the level sits.
Two habits help:
- Choose the level for your usual day, not your worst one, and keep a few of the next level up for heavier days.
- Check the absorbency on the product page and the front of the pack each time you reorder, because a similar-looking pack can be a different level.
Regular and long lengths
Length decides how much of your underwear the pad covers. A regular length is easier to wear under close-fitting clothes, and a long pad covers more at the front and back. Poise Pads for Women, Maximum Absorbency, Long, 84 Count is one long option.
A longer pad can make sense if leaks tend to travel toward the back when you lie down or lean. If you are unsure, order a small pack of each length and compare them over a few days at home.
Thin vs regular profile
Profile means thickness. A thin pad is less noticeable under fitted pants or a skirt, and a regular profile pad is bulkier. If a listing mentions a thin profile, that describes the thickness only. Absorbency is a separate label, so two pads that look different can carry the same absorbency word, and two that look alike can carry different ones.
When you shop for a thin pad, read the absorbency word first, then decide whether the profile suits your clothes.
Overnight pads
Overnight pads are made for time in bed, where you change position and cannot swap a pad for hours. Poise Overnight Incontinence Pads for Women, Extra-Coverage, 36 Count is one option. Check its product page and the pack for dimensions and instructions. A pad made for daytime may not give the same coverage in bed, so check that the listing says overnight before you rely on it at night.
Some people also add a bed layer, such as an underpad on the bed, in case of a leak at the edge. You can browse pads, underwear and briefs in the Incontinence Products collection.
When a pad is not enough
Poise is a pads-and-liners range, so there is a ceiling. Before you leave it, work through the steps a pad still gives you:
- Go up one absorbency level at the same length.
- Keep the level and move from regular to long.
- Switch to an overnight pad for bed only, and keep your daytime pad as it is.
If you are already at the top level in the longest length and still wearing two pads or changing clothes during the day, the next step is a different product type. Protective underwear and briefs are complete garments with the absorbent core inside, so coverage no longer depends on a pad staying where you put it. Our post on bladder leak pads vs protective underwear compares the two, and our guide to choosing briefs and protective underwear walks through the types.
If your leaks started suddenly or keep increasing, ask a doctor, nurse or pharmacist about it. They can also talk through which products might suit.
Shop this guide
- Always Discreet Maximum Underwear for Women, Large, 76 Count (ships via Amazon)
- Depend Night Defense Overnight Underwear for Men, Large, Grey, 14 Count (ships via Amazon)
- Depend Fit-Flex Maximum Underwear for Women, XXL, Blush, 22 Count (ships via Amazon)
- Depend Silhouette Underwear for Women, Large, 52 Count (ships via Amazon)
- See all: Adult Incontinence
Prices are on each product page. Free shipping on orders of $100 or more within Canada.
Common questions
Which end of the pad goes to the back?
If a pad is wider or longer at one end, the pack shows which way it faces. Follow that diagram, since shapes differ from one pad to another.
What does Extra-Coverage mean?
It is the manufacturer's wording in the title of the overnight pad. Check the product page or the pack for the dimensions, which tell you the actual coverage.
Can I wear two pads at once?
Pads are generally made with a waterproof backing, so a second pad underneath is not designed to catch what the first cannot hold. A higher level, a longer pad or an overnight pad is the step to try first, and the pack has the instructions.
Not sure which level or length to start with? Use the contact page to tell us what you are comparing, and we will help you sort out the listings.