Treatment Overview

Catheters used to manage urinary incontinence include:

• Standard catheter. This is a thin, flexible, hollow tube that is inserted through the urethra into the bladder and allows the urine to drain out. The standard catheter is used for intermittent self-catheterization.
• Indwelling Foley catheter. This type of catheter, which remains in place continuously, has a balloon on the end that is inflated with sterile water after the end is inside the bladder. The inflated balloon prevents the catheter from slipping out. Urinary tract infections are more likely to occur with long-term use of an indwelling catheter than with intermittent self-catheterization. To learn more, see the topic Care for an Indwelling Urinary Catheter.
• Condom catheter or Texas catheter. This is a special condom that fits over the penis and is attached to a tube that collects urine. Condom catheters are only for short-term use, because long-term use increases the risk of urinary tract infections, damage to the penis from friction with the condom, and urethral blockage.