CATHETERS, TRAVEL, AND LEAVING THE HOUSE: WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS, AND WHAT CAN HELP
We recently asked catheter users to share their experience regarding living with a catheter. These series of short blogs are intended to address some of the common responses we found.
In our recent survey of male catheter users, 84% told us that catheter use has made them feel anxious when leaving the house. If planning a day out now involves more logistics and more anxiety than it used to, that's a common experience rather than an overreaction. Here, we’ll look at what the research tells us about why going out becomes harder, and then suggest some practical ways to make it easier again.
What the Research Shows
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A study focused on living with a long-term indwelling catheter identified eight core themes shaping people's experience, with "managing away from home" being one of them, alongside unpredictability, social interaction, and catheter problems. The same study found a clear split in outcomes; some adapted, built self-reliance, and described the catheter enabling greater freedom, while others became more restricted and resigned as a direct result of catheterisation. In other words, the outcome isn't fixed but instead depends heavily on the practical strategies and support someone has in place.
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Research on quality of life in catheter users has linked long-term catheterisation to broader disruptions including interruption of daily activity, social isolation, and restriction of social participation, alongside more visible physical complications like blockages and infections. This is consistent with the feedback we’ve seen through our recent survey. Notably, a UK-based study found that for some people, a long-term catheter actually enabled them to leave the house without embarrassment. This approach reframed the device as a tool for confidence rather than only a source of restriction, once the practical management side is under control.
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A study of male catheter users found that a lack of guidance from healthcare professionals on managing catheters, including drainage bags, at home directly contributed to difficulty adjusting to life with a long-term device, and that social interaction and practical support were protective factors in adapting well. This mirrors a broader pattern seen across catheter use where it's not the device that causes the withdrawal from normal life, it's the absence of a clear, workable plan for using it in public.
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A cross-sectional study of long-term catheter users found associations between catheter use and a wider set of biopsychosocial complications. This included a loss of dignity, interruption of activity, and social isolation - all of which are consistent with, and likely contribute to, reduced confidence about being out of the house.
What Can Help?
1. Build a "go bag" and always pack more than you think you'll need.
Patient guidance consistently recommends carrying one to two days' worth of extra supplies (catheters, wipes, hand sanitiser, disposal bags, spare underwear depending on your current catheter) in a bag that stays with you when you go away. This should be in a carry-on bag rather than checked luggage if flying, specifically to cover delays or unexpected changes of plan.
2. Get a toilet access card and key.
In the UK, the free "Just Can't Wait" card (from Bladder & Bowel UK or the Bladder & Bowel Community) is a widely recognised way to request urgent toilet access at shops, cafés, and venues without having to explain your condition verbally. Alongside it, a RADAR key (available from Age UK and other sites) unlocks over 10,000 locked accessible toilets across the country. Apps such as the Great British Public Toilet Map can help you plan routes around known facilities in advance.
3. Choose the right equipment for the journey.
Consider how long you will be travelling for, and the toilet options available along the way. For example, on longer trips, a Foley user might use a larger-capacity drainage bag to reduce how often you need to empty it, while making sure tubing stays free of kinks and the bag is positioned below the level of the bladder. A smaller leg bag worn on the calf, under clothing, can help with discretion for shorter outings.
4. Plan for security and medical documentation.
If flying, catheters and related supplies are permitted in both carry-on and checked baggage, and you're entitled to request a private screening if equipment needs inspecting. Some catheter suppliers provide a travel or medical validation certificate, in multiple languages, explaining your condition to customs or security staff, which can be worth requesting from your provider before a big trip. For our cymactive device, the IFU included in your Actuator packaging or the patient card provide upon insertion can reasonably explain the device to security staff.
5. Talk to your care team about your specific goals.
Because the research shows outcomes vary so much between people managing similar conditions, it's worth telling your urology team specifically what "going out" or "travelling" looks like for you. This is different to each person with “going out” meaning a daily commute, a flight, a weekend away. By being proactive in your discussions, you can receive the advice and equipment matched to real situations, not just general catheter care.
Where cymactive™ fits in
Much of the research above points to the same underlying issue: unpredictability, visible equipment, and the logistics of managing a bag away from home. cymactive™ is a patient-controlled magnetic valve system that lets you manage bladder drainage without wearing an external bag or tube at all. There's no bag to hide, position, or empty on a schedule dictated by its capacity. For men whose hesitation about leaving the house is tied to the practical burden of traditional catheter equipment specifically, our device could support your catheter journey.
Find out more about cymactive™ by visiting our website here or using the below form to contact us!
Please note: this article is not intended as medical advice and we would urge you to talk to your Healthcare Professional.
References
Clarke, S.A. et al., "Living With a Long-term, Indwelling Urinary Catheter" — qualitative study identifying "managing away from home" as a core theme.
"How users of indwelling urinary catheters talk about sex and sexuality," British Journal of General Practice (2014), PMC4032019.
Life with an Indwelling Urinary Catheter: Experiences from Male Patients, Northwestern Tanzania — qualitative study, PMC9680475.
"The Quality of Life of Patients Living with a Urinary Catheter and Its Associated Factors," cross-sectional study, Egypt, PMC10454127.
Bladder & Bowel UK / Bladder & Bowel Community — "Just Can't Wait" card scheme guidance.
Disability Rights UK — National Key Scheme (RADAR key) information.
180 Medical, Aeroflow Urology, and Wellspect patient guidance on travelling with catheters.