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How to wear incontinence pads for men

Updated: 21 October 2026

The pad is often blamed when the underwear was the problem. If you are putting on a male guard for the first time, this is how to wear incontinence pads for men so the cup stays at the front. The [incontinence pads for men](/hub/personal-care/incontinence-pads-for-men) comparison can wait until the fit is honest. Lisa M., editor for Home & living at productscompared.co.uk, used TENA UK's wear notes, a TENA Men fitting sheet, and AHPMA's fitting points, as of 20 October 2026. This is not a personal wear test. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

The pad is often blamed when the underwear was the problem. If you are putting on a male guard for the first time, this is how to wear incontinence pads for men so the cup stays at the front.

Our top picks

TENA TENA Men Level 2, 60 pads

Best overall

TENA TENA Men Level 2, 60 pads
8.7/10about £26.94
View offer
TENA TENA Men Level 3, 96 pads

Best value

TENA TENA Men Level 3, 96 pads
7.9/10about £27.95
View offer
ABENA Abena Man Formula 2, 15 pads

Alternative

ABENA Abena Man Formula 2, 15 pads
7.6/10about £5.49
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.Fit the guard before you blame the absorbency
  2. 2.Steps that UK fitting guides repeat
  3. 3.Boxers, walking, and a narrow strip
  4. 4.What not to add, and how to throw it away

Fit the guard before you blame the absorbency

A guard fails in a few repeatable ways. Loose boxers let the cup drop. The wide end goes at the bottom, so the bowl misses the leak. Two pads are stacked, which stops the barriers standing. People then buy a higher level and repeat the same fit. One review on the TENA Men Level 3 48-count says the pads are no good for boxers. WhyWorry reviews say the sticky area can be too narrow, and Abena Man reviews both praise the strip and say it shifts. If close-fitting briefs still leave you wet through, look at level and shape on the men's incontinence pads buying guide. The weeks after a catheter comes out are on the incontinence pads after prostate surgery page.

Steps that UK fitting guides repeat

TENA UK and the TENA Men fitting sheet describe the same sequence, and AHPMA's note is to follow the manufacturer, fold and cup the pad, and let the leakage barriers stand. Start with clean, dry skin. Unwrap one pad. Fold it lengthways so it forms a bowl, rather than leaving it as a flat liner. The wider end goes upwards, towards the waist, and the narrower end points down. Press the adhesive onto the inside front of close-fitting underwear, not onto a pad you are already wearing. Put the underwear on so the cup sits under the penis and against the body, with the barriers opened out. None of these steps promises the strip will hold during sport.
TENA TENA Men Level 2, 60 pads

Testsieger

TENA TENA Men Level 2, 60 pads
8.7/10about £26.94
View offer

Boxers, walking, and a narrow strip

Close-fitting briefs are part of the product. TENA UK says tight-fitting underwear and not loose boxers. A guard has no side wings. If the cloth is loose, the cup walks and urine leaves at the edge. Changing to briefs is the fix. A second pad does not replace that. If you will not leave boxers, choose a different family. Abena Man reviews split on whether the strip stays on a walk, and WhyWorry's triple strip is still described as too narrow. Shaped inserts are a different fit, on the male incontinence guard or shaped pad page.

What not to add, and how to throw it away

Do not put a second pad inside the first. Stacked cores stop the barriers standing. Do not use talc under the pad. A prescribed barrier cream, if you have one, goes on sparingly, because a thick layer lets the adhesive grip cream instead of cloth. Change the pad when it is wet. Broken skin is a reason to speak to a nurse. Disposal is the bin, not the toilet. TENA UK says that, and a pad in the pan blocks plumbing. The best incontinence pads for men page is where a named pack belongs after the fit is right.

Common questions

Which way up does the pad go?
The wider end goes upwards and the narrower end points down. Fold the pad lengthways into a bowl before you stick it, so the cup faces the body. Press the adhesive onto the inside front of the underwear. Do that before you leave the bathroom.
Can I wear it in boxers?
Loose boxers are the fit these guards are not designed for. TENA UK says tight-fitting underwear and not loose boxers, and one Level 3 review says the pads are no good in boxers. The cup needs the cloth to hold it still.
What if the adhesive is not wide enough?
WhyWorry reviews describe a sticky area that is too narrow, and Abena Man reviews disagree about whether the strip stays put on a walk. Check that the strip is on the underwear, on dry cloth, with no thick cream under it. A second pad stuck on top is not the repair.
Can I put a second pad inside the first?
No. Fitting guidance says not to put one pad inside another. The inner pad blocks the barriers and gives the adhesive the wrong surface. If one guard is soaked before you can change, you need a higher capacity in the right family, or a change earlier in the day.
Can I use talc or a thick barrier cream?
Do not use talc under the pad. A prescribed barrier cream, if you have been told to use one, goes on sparingly. A thick coat stops the adhesive gripping the underwear, which feels like a faulty strip. Sore skin is a reason to ask a nurse.
Do I flush the pad?
No. Used pads go in the bin. TENA UK's disposal line is the same point, and a pad in the toilet is a plumbing blockage, wrap or no wrap. If you change away from home, bag it and use a bin.

Related pages

Incontinence pads for men

Incontinence pads after prostate surgery, UK guide

Best incontinence pads for men: who each pad suits

Men's incontinence pads buying guide before you buy

Male incontinence guard or shaped pad, which to buy

Sources

Public UK sources used for this comparison. Shelf prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures captured for these eight listings. Last checked 21 October 2026.

  1. NHS incontinence products (retrieved 21 October 2026)
  2. NHS urinary incontinence (retrieved 21 October 2026)
  3. NICE CG97 recommendations (retrieved 21 October 2026)
  4. GOV.UK VAT Notice 701/7 (retrieved 21 October 2026)
  5. AHPMA disposable absorbent continence products (retrieved 21 October 2026)
  6. AHPMA on ISO 11948-1 (retrieved 21 October 2026)
  7. Abena on the Rothwell test (retrieved 21 October 2026)
  8. TENA UK how to wear pads (retrieved 21 October 2026)