Male external catheters (MECs) are used for temporary to chronic urinary incontinence as an alternative to indwelling Foley catheters or incontinence products such as liners, pull-ups and diapers. Some indications for use are reflexive voiding due to spinal cord injuries, decreased mobility and unmanageable urinary frequency or urgency.
When using MECs, it is important to use the correct size and to practice proper preparation, application and removal techniques to prevent leaking and skin damage. Below, you’ll find some helpful tips to choose the correct size:
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Correct sizing is important to prevent leakage and/or skin damage. Leakage may result if the catheter is too loose, but constriction may occur if it is too tight. MECs are flexible and the right size should be snug but not overly tight.
Helpful tips:
- To get the right fit, measure the circumference of the penis with a size guide or metric measuring tape.
- The penis should be measure in its relaxed flaccid state at the widest spot. If the measurement rangers between two sizes, the smaller-sized MEC will most often be more comfortable and work better. The larger of the two sizes may become loose and come off or allow urine leakage, leading to skin damage and complications over time.
- A size that is too small or too tight can cause constriction, restriction of blood flow or obstruction.
It may take some trial and error to find the size that works best.
In addition, if you have a retracted penis, you can order a penis pouch. Type “condom catheter for retracted penis” into a search engine, such as Google, to find options for ordering those types of male external catheters. Shield HealthCare offers the Hollister Retracted Penis Pouch.
For more information, see related articles and condom catheter resources here:
