How Often Should a Condom Catheter be Changed? Tips for Skin Health and Hygiene

Condom catheters are the best option for people with urinary incontinence (UI), a condition associated with poor bladder control leading to unintentional urine flow. These catheters cover the penis and collect the leaked urine. As per some studies, in the US alone, every 1 in 20 men and 1 in 6 older men suffer from incontinence issues. It has also been hypothesized that by 2050, this number will elevate as, by then, almost 6^th of the US male population will be above 65. Therefore, learning things like how to use a condom catheter or how often should a condom catheter be changed is necessary.

In this article, let us focus on the question of how often should a condom catheter be changed. For reader’s ease, some of the commonly used products in this domain have also been linked in the article.

What is a Condom Catheter?

A condom catheter is a device employed for managing the leakages of urine in patients dealing with urinary incontinence. As the name suggests, these are shaped like a condom and can, therefore, be easily worn over the penile area.

Once these are fixed, there is no risk of displacement or accidental falling. A drainage tube and a urine collection bag are attached to the condom catheter which helps collect the leaked urine until the bag is emptied.

How Often Should a Condom Catheter Be Changed?

Condom catheters are single-use devices that can be employed for a period of 24 hours. A study published in the International Wound Journal has suggested that the usage period can also be extended up to 48 hours but this way, the risk of irritation and urinary tract infection increases. Therefore, it is better not to exceed 24 hours.

These catheters are not reusable while the attached drainage tube and urine collection bag can be employed multiple times after thorough cleaning.

Using a Condom Catheter: Tips for Skin Health and Hygiene

While learning about how often should a condom catheter be changed, it is essential to learn about the necessary hygiene tips that can prevent possible skin irritation. The following section covers some of the do’s and don’ts of using a condom catheter:

Do’s

Here are some of the things you should do while learning how often should a condom catheter be changed:

Choose a Suitable Material

Condom catheters are made up of different kinds of construction materials which usually include silicone and latex. While silicone is known for its hypoallergenic nature, latex is a known skin irritant in most people. Therefore, while learning about how often should a condom catheter be changed, keep in mind that a non-suitable material can irritate the skin even before the 24-hour usage duration of the device.

Maintain Good Hygiene

While learning how often should a condom catheter be changed, special focus should be given to practicing proper hand hygiene while handling the device. As your hands often carry germs, these can get transferred to the new condom catheter or the penile skin where these can harbor and cause infections.

Hence, the importance of hand hygiene is undeniable. Clean water and soap should be used to wash your hands before and after handling a condom catheter. In addition, it is also recommended to wash your penis at least once every 24 hours.

Timely Empty the Drainage Bag

The drainage or urine collection bag is often tied to the patient’s thigh and collects the urine. While learning how often should a condom catheter be changed, remember that if the drainage bag fills completely, the urine can backflow from the bag into the urethra. As a result, the risk of an infection elevates.

Therefore, the bag should be emptied once it is ²/₃ full. If you are still confused about it, there is another way to remember it:

• If your urine collection bag is of a smaller size, you should empty it every 3 to 4 hours.
• If the size is larger, the emptying can be delayed to every 8 hours.

Ensure Proper Adhesion

If the condom catheter is improperly attached to the skin, it can either displace or fall off of its place. This can lead to the leakage of urine resulting in dirty clothes and embarrassment especially when the patient is outdoors.

Therefore, while learning how often should a condom catheter be changed, always make sure that the device is properly set in place.

Don’ts

Some of the things you should while learning how often should a condom catheter be changed have been enlisted as follows:

Never Reuse a Condom Catheter

Condom catheters are single-use systems that should never be re-employed. This is because, after one use, the catheter traps germs from the urine. No matter how thoroughly you clean a used catheter, the necessary hygienic state cannot be achieved.

Avoid Adhesive Tape

To fix the condom catheter in place, different devices come with different mechanisms. Some have a Velcro attachment while others come with a medical tape. Moreover, in some condom catheters, an adhesive layer is already present. You just have to wear the catheter and press it for a few seconds to settle it in place. Therefore, never attach an adhesive tape or any other material as these can cause skin irritation.

When Should I Be Concerned?

While learning how often should a condom catheter be changed, keep in mind that if you experience any of the following, contact your healthcare provider immediately:

• Urine has a strong smell
• The color of the urine has turned pinkish or reddish
• Urine has a thick, cloudy texture
• There is mucus in the urine
• Penis has turned red or purple
• Penis has swollen
• The urine collection bag is empty even after 6 to 8 hours of usage
• Presence of burning or pain in the urethra, bladder, or abdomen
• High fever (above 101°C or 38.3°C) with chills

External Condom Catheters at Health Supply 770: Features and Specifications

Condom catheters are needed for patients dealing with urinary incontinence. These are employed for managing urine leakages and keeping the patient comfortable during their day-to-day activities.

While learning how often should a condom catheter be changed, it is essential to go through some of the products as well. Some of these external condom catheters are also available at Health Supply 770 and have been detailed below along with their features and purchase links:

6530 Coloplast Freedom Clear Advantage Self Adhering Male External Catheter with Aloe and Kink Resistant Nozzle 40mm Diameter Extra Large Latex Free Transparent

US$97.88

Product Details

6530 Coloplast Freedom clear advantage self-adhering male external catheter is a product employed for managing urinary incontinence. These catheters are single-use items and non-sterile. Owing to their soft and flexible construction material, these allow the patient to move, walk, bend, or conduct their day-to-day activities without feeling pain and discomfort.

In addition, while learning how often should a condom catheter be changed, it is necessary to keep in mind that some condom catheters do not attach to the penis properly. This leads to displacement or accidental falling.

To prevent these issues, these 6530 Coloplast Freedom clear advantage self-adhering male external catheters have a strong adhesive strip to enhance security. Furthermore, an added layer of aloe vera also increases the user’s comfort.

Moreover, these 6530 Coloplast Freedom clear advantage self-adhering male external catheters are extra-large in size with a diameter of about 40 mm and are constructed using latex-free material which helps avoid skin irritation.

Bard # 938383 Male External Catheter Spirit™3 Self-Adhesive Seal Hydrocolloid Silicone Small

US$195.88

Product Details

Bard # 938383 Spirit™3 self-adhesive seal hydrocolloid-based male external catheters have hydrocolloid-based silicone material as their construction material. Their diameter is around 25 mm and these are non-sterile items that can be employed only once.

While learning how often should a condom catheter be changed, the ease of using the catheter is a point of concern. These Bard # 938383 Spirit™3 self-adhesive seal hydrocolloid-based male external condom catheters can be easily slid over the penis by the patient himself or a caregiver.

Bard # 938385 Male External Catheter Spirit™3 Self-Adhesive Seal Hydrocolloid Silicone Medium

US$181.88

Product Details

Bard # 938385 Spirit™3 self-adhesive seal hydrocolloid-based male external catheters are made up of non-slip hydrocolloid silicone material. This is a non-irritant and single-use product that is not sterile by nature. The non-slip nature ensures that the condom catheter stays in place throughout the usage period of 24 hours.

Moreover, while learning how often should a condom catheter be changed, choosing the right size should be emphasized. As for these Bard # 938385 Spirit™3 self-adhesive seal hydrocolloid-based male external catheters, these have a diameter of 29 mm which is suitable for most patients.

Bard # 961149 Male External Catheter Spirit™2 Self-Adhesive Band Hydrocolloid Silicone Medium

US$163.88

Product Details

Bard # 961149 Spirit™2 male external catheters have a diameter of 29 mm. Their single-use nature eases application as there is no need to wash and clean the catheter. The product is constructed using soft and flexible hydrocolloid silicone-based material which keeps the patient comfortable during the wearing period.

Furthermore, while learning how often should a condom catheter be changed, the adhesion of the device to the skin is an important factor. In the case of these Bard # 961149 Spirit™2 male external catheters, a self-adhesive layer is present which eases attachment to the penis and prevents displacement or falling.

Bard # 938378 Male External Catheter Spirit™1 Self-Adhesive Seal Hydrocolloid Silicone Small

US$152.88

Product Details

Bard # 938378 Spirit™1 male external catheters are constructed using hydrocolloid silicone-based material which is soft, smooth to the skin, and flexible enough to allow movement throughout the day. The product has a diameter of 25 mm and is a single-use item of non-sterile nature.

While learning how often should a condom catheter be changed, keep in mind that leakages are always a risk with these devices. To prevent these issues, these Bard # 938378 Spirit™1 male external catheters are designed in a way that they snugly fit over the penis and remain intact at their place for longer.

*Note: The prices mentioned in the article are taken from the Health Supply 770 website. These may vary depending on the vendor.

The external condom catheters mentioned in this article, while learning how often should a condom catheter be changed, along with many other medical supplies, can be purchased from Health Supply 770, a reliable name when it comes to medical products. They have a 30-day money-back guarantee and provide your products to you in the shortest possible time. Click the link at the end of the article to check the wide range of external condom catheters.

Conclusion

Urinary incontinence is affecting a lot of people nowadays. With the estimated rise in the number of patients in coming years, it is essential to develop and learn about management tools. One such item is the condom catheter which collects the urine and stores it in a bag. This way, the patient is comfortable.

While learning how often should a condom catheter be changed, it is essential to keep in mind the do’s and don’ts of using a condom catheter. After all, by practicing proper hygiene, issues like skin irritation and urinary tract infections (UTIs) can be avoided.

As external condom catheters are necessary items in healthcare facilities as well as in home settings, these should be bought and stored for future use. For purchasing different external condom catheter brands, reliable vendors like Health Supply 770 should be approached. They ensure the provision of quality products along with satisfactory services.

References

Urinary incontinence statistics

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022534710035445

Study in International Wound Journal

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7950631/#:~:text=Condom%20catheters%20are%20made%20of,anatomy%20or%20are%20uncircumcised%202.