A Foley catheter is a sterile tube that is inserted into your bladder to drain urine. It is also called an indwelling urinary catheter. The tip of the catheter has a small balloon filled with solution that holds the catheter in your bladder. A Foley catheter is a common type of indwelling catheter. It has soft, plastic or rubber tube that is inserted into the bladder to drain the urine. In most cases, your provider will use the smallest catheter that is appropriate. There are 3 main types of catheters: Indwelling catheter; Condom catheter; Intermittent self-catheter A Foley catheter is used to drain urine in situations where you can’t urinate on your own. Catheters are helpful if you have urinary retention, during surgeries and hospitalizations, or if you are bedbound. Risks of having a Foley catheter inserted include infection, trauma, and discomfort. Andrii Pohranychnyi/iStock via Getty Images Your Foley catheter is a thin, flexible tube placed through your urethra (the small tube that carries urine from your bladder to outside your body) and into your bladder. Your Foley catheter drains your urine (pee). It’s held inside your bladder by a balloon filled with water. .

what is a foley catheter