Heavy incontinence pads are more absorbant thant their light and medium counterparts, but less absorbant than the lightest brief or pullup. They are more for if the person has some freeflowing action before getting to the bathroom, being as absorbant as a pad can be. They are less discrete than briefs or pullups, but again they are not as absorbant or protective. Tena makes a good pad and the ever popular woman's Poise pad helps women in need of a heavy incontinence pad. Pads are not for conditions like heavy incontinence, and a good pad like the Tena can do as much as any pad can do for less sever types of incontinence issues.