Urinary catheters

A urinary catheter is a flexible tube that can be used to drain urine from your bladder. Your urine (pee) will pass through the catheter into a drainage bag. 

The catheter drainage bag will be worn inside your clothes and will be secured around your lower leg. It is important that the urine can drain easily from your bladder and into the drainage bag.

Your surgeon will tell you how long you will need to keep your catheter in place. This can vary from 1 to 3 weeks. Before you go home, your nurse will show you how to look after the catheter.

You may find it easier to wear looser clothes when you have the catheter in place. 

• Try to drink plenty of fluids every day (between 1.5 and 2 litres is usually best) to help reduce the risk of getting an infection.
• Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine in them. They may irritate your bladder.
• Wash your hands before and after handling the catheter.
• Wash the catheter entry tip in a one-way direction away from your body.
• Speak with your nurse if you notice any leaking around the outside of the catheter or if you notice that the catheter is not draining correctly. 

• You will go to hospital or to your GP to have your catheter removed a few weeks after surgery. It only takes a few seconds.  
• When the catheter is removed, many people have some leaking of urine (urinary incontinence). This is normal and usually improves with time.
• Your nurse will give you an incontinence pad to wear, along with a small supply to take home. Try to make sure you have pads at home before the catheter is removed. You can get them from your pharmacist or an online supplier.

• It is important to keep doing pelvic floor exercises once your catheter has been removed to try and reduce urine leakage.

   Read more about pelvic floor exercises.