Urine drainage bags
Leg bag
When you enter a store or restaurant, are you often looking to find the establishments bathroom? If you're having trouble holding in your urine, or if you often leak urine, you probably have what's called urinary incontinence. Normally, the bladder begins to fill with urine from the kidneys. The bladder stretches to allow more and more urine. You should feel the first urge to urinate when there is about 200 mL, just under 1 cup of urine stored in your bladder. A healthy nervous system will respond to this stretching sensation by letting you know that you have to urinate. But, at the same time, the bladder should keep filling. But the system doesn't work correctly in people with urinary incontinence. Some people with urinary incontinence leak urine during activities like coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercise. This is called stress incontinence. When you have a sudden, strong need to urinate, but can't make it to the bathroom before you do urinate, it's called urge incontinence. Other people have what's called overflow incontinence, when the bladder cannot empty and they dribble. Urinary incontinence can have many causes, and it's most common in older adults. Women are more likely than men to have it. For some people the bladder muscle is overactive. For others, the muscles holding the urine in are weak. And for others, the problem is sensing when the bladder is full. They might have brain or nerve problems, dementia or other health problems that make it hard to feel and respond to the urge to urinate, or problems with the urinary system itself. To treat urinary incontinence, your doctor can help you form a treatment plan. Most likely, exercises to strengthen the muscles of your pelvic floor will be part of that plan. Bladder training exercises can also be effective. And depending on the cause of incontinence, oral medications, or topical estrogen may be helpful. If you have overflow incontinence and cannot empty your bladder completely, you may need to use a catheter. Your doctor can recommend the best catheter for you. For urine leaks, you might wear absorbent pads or undergarments. Whatever else you try, lifestyle changes may help. Aim for an ideal weight. Losing excess weight and increasing exercise both often improve incontinence, especially in women. Also, some specific beverages and foods might increase leaking in some people. For instance, you might try eliminating alcohol, caffeine, carbonated beverages, even decaf coffee. Drink plenty of water, but do NOT drink anything 2 to 4 hours before going to bed. Be sure to empty your bladder before going to bed to help prevent urine leakage at night. Throughout the day, urinate at set times, even if you do not feel the urge. Schedule yourself every 3 to 4 hours. Urinary incontinence is very common, but many people never talk to their doctor about it. Don't let that be you. See your doctor and bring it up at your next doctor's visit.
How Your Leg Bag Works
Urine will pass through the catheter from your bladder into the leg bag.
- Your leg bag will be attached to you all day. You can move around freely with it.
- You can hide your leg bag under skirts, dresses, or pants. They come in all different sizes and styles.
- At night, you will need to use a bedside bag with a larger capacity.
Where to place your leg bag:
- Attach your leg bag to your thigh with Velcro or elastic straps.
- Make sure the bag is always lower than your bladder. This keeps urine from flowing back into your bladder.
Emptying Your Leg Bag
Always empty your bag in a clean bathroom. Do not let the bag or tube openings touch any of the bathroom surfaces (toilet, wall, floor, and others). Empty your bag into the toilet at least two or three times a day, or when it is a third to half full.
Follow these steps for emptying your bag:
- Wash your hands well.
- Keep the bag below your hip or bladder as you empty it.
- Hold the bag over the toilet, or the special container your doctor gave you.
- Open the spout at the bottom of the bag, and empty it into the toilet or container.
- Do not let the bag touch the rim of the toilet or container.
- Clean the spout with rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball or gauze.
- Close the spout tightly.
- Do not place the bag on the floor. Attach it to your leg again.
- Wash your hands again.
Changing Your Leg Bag
Change your bag once or twice a month. Change it sooner if it smells bad or looks dirty. Follow these steps for changing your bag:
- Wash your hands well.
- Disconnect the valve at the end of the tube near the bag. Try not to pull too hard. Do not let the end of the tube or bag touch anything, including your hands.
- Clean the end of the tube with rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball or gauze.
- Clean the opening of the clean bag with rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball or gauze if it is not a new bag.
- Attach the tube to the bag tightly.
- Strap the bag to your leg.
- Wash your hands again.
Cleaning Your Leg Bag
Clean your bedside bag each morning. Clean your leg bag each night before changing to the bedside bag.
- Wash your hands well.
- Disconnect the tube from the bag. Attach the tube to a clean bag.
- Clean the used bag by filling it with a solution of 2 parts white vinegar and 3 parts water. Or, you can use 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) of chlorine bleach mixed with about a half cup (120 milliliters) of water.
- Close the bag with the cleaning liquid in it. Shake the bag a little.
- Let the bag soak in this solution for 20 minutes.
- Hang the bag to dry with the bottom spout hanging down.
When to Call the Doctor
A urinary tract infection is the most common problem for people with an indwelling urinary catheter.
Contact your health care provider if you have signs of an infection, such as:
- Pain around your sides or lower back.
- Urine smells bad, or it is cloudy or a different color.
- Fever or chills.
- A burning sensation or pain in your bladder or pelvis.
- You do not feel like yourself.
- Feeling tired, achy, and have a hard time focusing.
Contact your provider if you:
- Are not sure how to attach, clean, or empty your leg bag
- Notice your bag is filling up quickly, or not at all
- Have a skin rash or sores
- Have any questions about your catheter bag
References
Griebling TL. Aging and geriatric urologoy. In: Partin AW, Dmochowski RR, Kavoussi LR, Peters CA, eds. Campbell-Walsh-Wein Urology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 128.
James RE, Palleschi JR. Suprapubic catheter insertion and/or change. In: Fowler GC, ed. Pfenninger and Fowler's Procedures for Primary Care. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 99.
Version Info
Last reviewed on: 1/1/2025
Reviewed by: Kelly L. Stratton, MD, FACS, Associate Professor, Department of Urology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
