How long do you keep a catheter in after prostate surgery?

Navigating life after prostate surgery: What to expect with a catheter

Undergoing prostate surgery is a major milestone, and naturally, recovery brings up plenty of questions. One of the most common concerns patients have is about the urinary catheter and how long it needs to stay in place.

Typically, if you have undergone a radical prostatectomy, the catheter is kept in for 7 to 10 days. This healing window gives the newly joined bladder and urethra vital time to recover properly without strain.

Before you are discharged, your hospital nurse will provide step-by-step guidance on how to manage and care for the catheter comfortably at home. While living with a catheter for over a week can feel daunting, getting into a routine quickly makes it much more manageable.

Once those initial days pass, your doctor or nurse will remove the catheter in a quick, straightforward procedure. It is completely normal to experience some temporary difficulty controlling your urine immediately afterward. Your pelvic floor muscles have been through a lot, and regaining full control takes a bit of patience and practice. Fortunately, this lack of control is almost always temporary, and most men see steady improvement over the following weeks, especially with pelvic floor (Kegel) exercises.

Staying in close communication with your medical team and giving your body the time it needs to heal makes all the difference on the road to full recovery.