How Often Do Catheter Bags Need To Be Emptied?

Catheters are a popular option for those with urinary incontinence. If you decide to use either an indwelling or external catheter, you’ll also need to use a portable leg bag and a bedside bag. While these bags will save you from going to the restroom every time you have to urinate, they have their limits on how much they can hold. You’ll need to make time to empty your catheter bags, but how often will you need to do that? We’re here to answer that for you.

The Frequency of Leg Bag Emptying

Let’s answer the main question for you right away. While this will vary depending on how often you go, in general, you’ll have to empty a leg bag once every two to four hours. Bedside bags will last about eight hours or so, so you’ll need to empty them every morning.

Even though these bags seem to be pretty sizeable, you should never let them fill up all the way. Once it’s about half full, you should empty it if possible. If you can’t empty it right away, ensure it doesn’t exceed the three-quarters mark.

Why You Shouldn’t Overfill It

There are quite a few reasons why you shouldn’t overfill your catheter bags. When it comes to leg bags, even though they’re quite discrete, they become more noticeable the more they fill up. Aside from that, a full leg bag will be much heavier, putting unnecessary strain on your catheter. Plus, there’s always a slight chance it’ll burst if you let it overfill. Fortunately, these issues aren’t as big of a problem for bedside bags.

However, a significant problem can occur with either bag if they’re too full. When a catheter bag fills up, there’s nowhere else for urine to go if you feel the urge to go again. That means it could back up into your bladder, which will be uncomfortable and lead to possible infections. This makes emptying your bag important.

How Often Should You Replace It?

Even though knowing how often you should empty your catheter bags is crucial to using them properly, something else you should be aware of is how often you need to replace them. These bags don’t last forever. They will deteriorate over time, ruining the material’s integrity and potentially causing a leak.

Since leg bags are much smaller, they typically last about seven days. On the other hand, bedside bags can last up to a month. For both types, though, you can help extend their life through proper cleaning techniques, so make sure you keep up with those while using them.