A Guide to Condom Catheter Sizes and Catheter Types

There are numerous catheter kinds and condom catheter sizes available for patients to choose from, and the goal of a catheter is to address urine incontinence. Even a female condom catheter exists, but that is for a completely separate guide. In contrast to indwelling catheters, an external catheter for a male eliminates the risk of acquiring urinary tract infections.

Factors That Make Up An External Catheter

Condom catheters and Texas catheters are other names for external catheters. For men with urine incontinence, external male catheters offer a less intrusive catheter option.

The sheath of an external catheter easily slips over the penis, just like a condom does. You can wear these kinds of catheters comfortably and discreetly below your clothes. The sheath that encloses the penis will prevent leakage. In order for urine to drain into the drainage bag, a small tube will be attached to that sheath.
Male External Catheters: Different Types

In order to discover an external catheter that works well for you, it is a good idea to test out a few different ones. Everybody has a unique body, so there isn’t a single external catheter that will suit everyone exactly the same.

Condom catheters are made by large catheter manufacturers and are available in a variety of sizes and shapes. These catheters are produced from either silicone or latex.

Catheters for latex condoms

The silicone condom catheters are still the preferred choice for those who are allergic to latex, despite the fact that the latex condom catheters are recognized to be highly uncomplicated and easy to use.

Condom catheters made of silicone

For those who are allergic to latex, silicone condom catheters are a good option, despite being slightly more expensive. They have a clear sheath, a good seal, and are breathable.

Self-adhesive and non-adhesive external male catheters are the two categories.

By softly pushing on the skin, self-adhesive catheters will stick to it.

You will need to use an adhesive substance to attach non-adhesive catheters to the skin. This can take the form of foam strips, adhesive strips, or skin glue strips. It is advised to choose a non-adhesive catheter if you frequently need to change the catheter throughout the day.

Is it hard to choose the correct size?

Choosing a condom catheter that will fit your body type is always a smart idea. The majority of condom catheter producers include a measuring reference that makes it simple to determine what size will work for you.

Your penis will be measured starting at the shaft because that is normally where the diameter is thickest when taking the measurements.

The circumference will be measured in millimetres. After you have calculated that number, divide it by 3.14. Here’s an illustration:

You just divide 110 by 3.14 if you find your penis to be 110 millimetres in circumference. You’ll receive 35 millimetres as a result.

It is recommended to choose the smaller condom catheter if you have taken measurements and determined that the size is between two distinct sizes, since this will reduce the likelihood of any leaking. It’s important to keep in mind that if you choose a catheter that is too tight, it may slide off. The external catheter you choose should always be as close as possible to the measurements you took.

Application of External Catheters

You should now try the catheter out to determine if it fits adequately after determining what size to purchase.

The initial step is to get your skin ready. To prevent hair from adhering to the adhesive, any hair near the base of the penis will need to be trimmed. Make sure the skin in the area is clean and totally dry. Use skin prep wipes if you have some on hand to help get your skin ready.

You can carefully unroll the catheter toward your skin after preparing it. You’ll want the foreskin to be in the neutral position while the catheter is inserted for individuals who haven’t been circumcised. Give the catheter a slight squeeze for a few seconds after it has fully unrolled to help it cling to the penis.

The tip of your penis shouldn’t be in contact with a condom catheter. You should leave a very small distance between the end of it and the penis to avoid this happening. The suggested distance to leave is half an inch. Your pee will flow more freely if you do this.

All you need to do is insert the drainage tube into the catheter’s tip and secure it to the collection bag.

Irritation of the skin: Is There Anything That Can Be Done?

External catheters should be changed and thoroughly cleaned each day. Some people may require more frequent catheter changes because their skin is more sensitive than others’. Generally speaking, you can wear it for anything from three days to a full day.

You should thoroughly clean your skin after changing your catheter. Additionally, keep an eye out for any skin irritation that may be present. Make sure you don’t shave any pubic hair in the area to reduce the likelihood of skin irritation. Give your skin some time to breathe after changing the catheter.

Simply removing the drainage tube holding the condom catheter together will allow you to remove it. This procedure can occasionally be made simpler by utilizing an adhesive remover.

Draining a bag or emptying and cleaning your leg

Your drainage bag or leg bag will hold the urine that collects from your catheter. The majority of people who wear catheters overnight use drainage bags.

Before beginning the process of emptying and cleaning your collection bag, wash your hands well. Depending on your collection bag, the majority of urine collection bags contain a removable clamp. You can then flush the bag down the toilet after that.

Leg bags require more frequent emptying because they are smaller than drainage bags. It is advised to drain the leg bag once it is approximately halfway full.

A good rinse with cold water is the best approach to getting a collection bag clean. Refill the bag with one part vinegar to three parts water once you’ve dumped the water in the toilet. Give it around twenty minutes to soak. Once it is finished, rinse it off and then leave it to dry for a while.

It’s always a good idea to take your lifestyle into account when selecting your condom catheter. The size and fit may differ from those of someone who has a sedentary lifestyle if you lead an active lifestyle. Finding one that works well for you will require some trial and error as well as accurate measurements.