We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.

Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.

Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:
  • Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?
  • Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?
  • Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?
We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness.
Was this helpful?

Condom catheters are external urinary catheters that are worn like a condom. They collect urine as it drains out of your bladder and send it to a collection bag strapped to your leg. They’re typically used by men who have urinary incontinence (can’t control their bladder).

External urinary catheters are less invasive than internal catheters, which drain urine from your bladder via a thin tube inserted into your urethra (Foley catheter) or via a small incision in the skin above your bladder (suprapubic catheter).

Internal catheters are used in hospitals for people who can’t get up to go to the bathroom or who have trouble emptying their bladder (urinary retention).

Men often prefer condom catheters over internal urinary catheters because they’re easier to use, can be changed at home, and are noninvasive (that is, nothing is inserted into their body).

Keep reading to find out who’s a good candidate for an external condom catheter, how to use one, benefits and disadvantages, and more.

Condom catheters are designed for men whose bladders are able to drain urine but who have trouble controlling when it’s released. Some of these conditions are:

  • Urinary incontinence. This condition happens when you no longer have control over your bladder and can’t prevent urine from leaking out of your urethra.
  • Overactive bladder (OAB). An OAB causes sudden urges to urinate that you can’t control.
  • Dementia. Incontinence may develop in the later stages of dementia.
  • Mobility issues. Some injuries or conditions make it difficult to get to the bathroom on time or at all.

Condom catheters are also used in special situations, such as when:

  • a person is going through alcohol withdrawal and can’t control their urination
  • a doctor needs an accurate measurement of the amount of urine that is passed to determine an appropriate dose of diuretics or other medications
  • an internal catheter can’t or shouldn’t be used (due to issues such as urinary tract infections, bladder spasms, or bladder stones)

Condom catheters can be used by both circumcised and uncircumcised men.

When an internal catheter is more appropriate

Condom catheters aren’t helpful if urine can’t drain out of your bladder. In that case, an internal catheter is needed to bypass whatever is stopping the urine flow.

Conditions where an internal catheter is used include:

  • Urinary retention. This condition prevents you from completely emptying your bladder.
  • Neurogenic bladder. A nerve problem, like a spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis, can also prevent your bladder from emptying.
  • Urinary tract blockage. Bladder stones and urethral strictures (scar tissue that narrows the urethra) can block urine flow.

Condom catheters have several benefits over internal catheters. For example, they:

Condom catheters also have some disadvantages. For example, they:

  • can leak if you’re using the wrong size and the fit isn’t correct
  • can cause skin irritation and breakdown from urine leakage
  • are more likely to fall off or leak than internal catheters
  • can potentially cause an allergic reaction (from the latex condom or the adhesive)
  • can be painful to remove
  • can be easily removed (which is not good for those with dementia)
  • can still cause a catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), but this is less likely than with an internal catheter

Condom catheters come in various sizes and have different features.

It’s important to talk to a healthcare supply specialist to get the best catheter for you. It’s critical to get the right size using a measuring guide so it doesn’t leak or injure your penis.

The catheters come in kits that contain everything you need, including:

  • condoms with or without adhesive, usually seven or more per kit
  • a collection bag with a tube and adjustable straps for attaching to your leg
  • a sheath holder to keep the condom in place

Skin-prep sealant products keep your skin dry and are pulled off by the adhesive instead of your skin. They usually have to be purchased separately if you want to use them.

Click this link to find condom catheter kits online.

  1. If necessary, remove the old condom by rolling — not pulling — it.
  2. Using soap and warm water, wash your hands and your penis. Be sure to retract the foreskin (if present) and clean the head of the penis. Pull it back over the head when done.
  3. Rinse your penis, and then let it dry completely.
  4. Check your penis for irritation or open sores.
  5. If you’re using a sealant, apply it to the skin on your penis and surrounding pubic area and let it dry. It should feel smooth and slippery when it’s dry.
  6. Place the condom over the tip of your penis and slowly unroll it until you get to the base. Leave enough room at the tip (1 to 2 inches) so it won’t rub against the condom.
  7. If the condom contains adhesive, hold it against your penis for about 15 seconds.
  8. Place the sheath holder around your penis at the base, keeping it slightly loose so it doesn’t stop blood flow.
  9. Connect the tubing on the collection bag to the condom.
  10. Strap the collection bag to your leg (below your knee) for proper drainage.

Condom catheters should be replaced every 24 hours. Throw away the old one unless it’s designed to be reusable.

The collection bag should be emptied when it’s about half full or at least every three to four hours for a small bag and every eight hours for a large one.

Collection bags are typically reusable. They should be cleaned before they’re reused.

To clean a collection bag:

  1. Empty the bag.
  2. Add cold water and shake the bag for about 10 seconds.
  3. Pour the water into the toilet.
  4. Repeat once.
  5. Using a mixture of 1-part vinegar to 3-parts water, or 1-part bleach to 10-parts water, fill the bag until it’s half full.
  6. Let it sit for 30 minutes, and then pour the mixture out.
  7. Rinse the bag with warm water, and let it air dry.

Here are some tips to help avoid complications.

Infection

Always wash your hands and penis well when putting the condom on or emptying the bag. Don’t let the open tubing touch anything when draining it.

Leakage

Be sure you’re using the correct size of condom catheter. A doctor, nurse, or healthcare supply provider can help determine what’s the best size for you to use.

Irritation/skin breakdown

  • Use a nonadhesive condom catheter to help prevent irritation from adhesive. An inflatable ring holds it in place.
  • Use nonlatex condom catheters to avoid irritation from latex allergy. They’re clear so you can easily look for skin irritations or breakdown.

Catheter bag or tube problems

  • Keep the bag lower than your bladder to avoid backflow of urine from the bag.
  • Securely attach the tube to your leg (below your knee, such as your calf), but leave a little slack so it doesn’t pull on the catheter.

Pain with removal

If removing the condom is painful, a warm washcloth wrapped around your penis will loosen the adhesive in a minute or so.

Some things to watch for that should be evaluated by a doctor are:

  • severe foreskin swelling called phimosis, which can develop if you wear the catheter without pulling your foreskin over the head of your penis
  • severe skin irritation or breakdown from the catheter components or urine that may have leaked onto your skin
  • significant pain during or after use
  • flank, lower abdominal, or urethral pain, which could indicate an infection
  • fevers, especially if you have open sores or other signs of an infection
  • urine that is cloudy, blood-tinged, or has a bad smell
  • lack of urine collected for six hours or more

External catheters are also available for women. They’re mainly used to manage incontinence and to allow early removal of internal catheters, thus lowering the risk of CAUTIs.

External catheters for women typically use a long, thin cylinder with a top layer of absorbent fabric that’s positioned between the labia, against the urethra. Urine is absorbed through the fabric and into the cylinder where it’s suctioned into a holding canister. Adhesive pads placed on the lower abdomen hold the device in place.

These catheters are designed to be used in a lying or sitting position.

Click this link to find female external catheters online.

Condom catheters are a convenient and easy-to-use alternative to internal catheters.

They’re designed for men whose bladders are able to drain urine but who may have difficulty controlling when it’s released or getting to a bathroom in time.

To avoid leakage, always use a condom that’s the correct size. Practicing good hygiene, not reusing single-use catheters, and keeping the collection bag clean can help you avoid CAUTIs.