Shields Incontinence Pads for Men vs Serenity Overnight Ultimate Pads: which is safer?

These two grade almost identically. Pick on price and preference; neither has a PFAS edge.

Depend Shields Incontinence Pads for Men

Depend

Shields Incontinence Pads for Men

PFAS grade

Poor 25/100

Overall grade

Bad 0/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 5

Material

Absorbent core (wood pulp, SAP), non-woven layers, polyethylene backing/waterproof barrier

Confidence

55%

LikelyPFAS in waterproof backing

PossibleSuperabsorbent polymer (SAP) integrity and microfiber shedding

ReportedBacterial and fungal growth in absorbent core

TENA Serenity Overnight Ultimate Pads

Tena

Serenity Overnight Ultimate Pads

PFAS grade

Poor 25/100

Overall grade

Bad 0/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

Cellulose, SAP (superabsorbent polymer), polyethylene backsheet with moisture barrier

Confidence

55%

LikelyPFAS in backsheet moisture barrier

PossibleSkin irritation from adhesives or residual chemicals

ReportedBacterial or fungal growth if pad left in place too long

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag PFAS in waterproof backing, Superabsorbent polymer (SAP) integrity and microfiber shedding, Bacterial and fungal growth in absorbent core and Skin irritation and sensitization from non-woven layers or residual manufacturing chemical on the Depend and not on the Tena.
  • We flag PFAS in backsheet moisture barrier, Skin irritation from adhesives or residual chemicals and Bacterial or fungal growth if pad left in place too long on the Tena and not on the Depend.
  • The Depend is Absorbent core (wood pulp, SAP), non-woven layers, polyethylene backing/waterproof barrier where the Tena is Cellulose, SAP (superabsorbent polymer), polyethylene backsheet with moisture barrier, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
  • These two are level, close enough that price and fit should decide it rather than our grade.

Both products run through the same public rubric: materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →

More incontinence pads: see the full ranking