DefinitionA urinary catheter is any tube system placed in the body to drain and collect urine from the bladder.Alternative NamesCatheter - urine; Foley catheter; Indwelling catheter; Suprapubic cathetersInformationUrinary catheters are used to drain the bladder. Your health care provider may recommend a catheter for short-term or long-term use because you have or had:Urinary incontinence (leakage of urine or the inability to control when you urinate)Urinary retention (being unable to empty the bladder when you need to)Surgery that made a catheter necessary, such as prostate or gynecological surgeryOther medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, or dementiaCatheters come in many sizes, materials (latex, silicone, Teflon), and types (Foley, straight, coude tip). A Fo