This guide covers how to use PureWick for women, step by step — what comes in the system, how to set it up, how to position the female external catheter, how to operate it, and how often to replace it. The PureWick™ Urine Collection System manages urinary incontinence without an internal catheter.
The system is used while in bed or at rest — most often overnight — and is not intended for use while walking or standing. RA Fischer Co. supplies the PureWick Female External Catheter system. Always follow the instructions for use packaged with your system, and contact your clinician with questions about your own care.
For background on the device itself, see the PureWick Urine Collection System, or how the PureWick system works.
What Comes With the PureWick System
Lay the parts out before you begin. Knowing the name of each piece makes the assembly steps much easier to follow.
- Main unit (pump): the suction device, with a power switch and a connector port.
- Power cord: plugs into the device and into a standard A/C wall outlet.
- Collection canister and lid: seats in the base of the unit and holds collected urine.
- Pump tubing: the short tube that runs between the main unit and the canister lid.
- Collector tubing: the long tube that runs from the canister lid to the catheter.
- PureWick elbow connector: the angled fitting that joins the collector tubing to the canister lid. The fitting at the opposite end of that tubing is the tubing connector, which meets the catheter.
- PureWick Female External Catheter: single-use, with a soft gauze wicking surface along one side.
- Privacy cover (optional): slides over the canister to conceal its contents.
PureWick Setup: How to Assemble the System
Learning how to use the PureWick system starts with assembly, because proper assembly is what lets the system hold suction. Work through these five setup steps in order, leaving the power switch OFF until the catheter is positioned.
- Connect the power. With the power switch OFF, plug the cord into the device, then into an A/C outlet.
- Prepare the canister. If you are using the privacy cover, slide it over the canister first. Then place the canister in the base of the unit and press firmly down on the lid until it seats and forms a seal.
- Attach the pump tubing. Connect the short pump tubing to the connector port on the main unit, then to the port on the collection canister lid.
- Attach the collector tubing. Connect the long collector tubing to the canister lid using the elbow connector, seating it fully so no air escapes.
- Connect the catheter. Attach the free end of the collector tubing to the Female External Catheter at the tubing connector.
The system is now assembled and ready to position.
How to Use PureWick: Positioning and Operation
Positioning the Female External Catheter
Once the system is assembled, these six positioning steps put the catheter in place and start the suction. The instructions for use packaged with your system illustrate each of these steps — keep them to hand the first few times.
- Prepare the skin. Perform perineal care and assess the skin for irritation or sensitivity before each placement.
- Separate the legs, gluteal muscles, and labia.
- Align the catheter. Turn the soft gauze wicking side toward the body.
- Tuck the gauze side between the gluteal muscles and labia, using the pubic bone as a reference point.
- Check the alignment. The distal end of the catheter should align with the gluteal cleft, with the tubing running away from the body without kinks.
- Turn the power on. Switch the unit ON to begin low-level suction.
If you see broken skin, bleeding, pain, or signs of infection, stop using the catheter and contact the patient’s clinician before continuing.
While the System Is Running
- Keep the tubing free of kinks and avoid lying directly on it.
- Keep the main unit upright on a firm, level surface near the bed.
- Empty the collection canister as directed in your instructions for use.
Removing the Catheter
- Fully separate the legs, gluteal muscles, and labia.
- Maintain suction while gently drawing the catheter outward, to help avoid skin irritation.
- Switch the unit OFF once the catheter is clear.
- Disconnect the catheter from the collector tubing at the tubing connector, then discard the catheter.
Replacing the Catheter
The catheter is single use. Replace the catheter every 8–12 hours, or sooner if it becomes soiled or displaced. To change it, follow the removal steps above, inspect the skin, then position a new catheter using the same six positioning steps. For more on change frequency and keeping the catheter in position overnight, see how PureWick stays in place.
Benefits of the PureWick Urine Collection System
- No internal catheter: the soft, flexible external catheter works outside the body.
- Supports skin health: the wick draws urine away from the skin, alongside regular changes and perineal care.
- Built for home use: the system assembles in a few steps and runs from a standard wall outlet.
Download the PureWick Instructions PDF
Prefer a copy to keep by the bed? Download the full PureWick instructions as a printable PDF.
FAQs About Using the PureWick System
What is the PureWick Urine Collection System used for?
It provides a non-invasive way to manage urinary incontinence by collecting urine externally, while the patient is in bed or at rest.
How can I download and print the PureWick instructions?
Use the Download & Print Guide button above to open the PureWick instructions PDF, which you can print or save.
Can the catheter be reused?
No. The catheter is single-use only. Reusing it increases the risk of infection and can keep the system from wicking properly.
Which tubing connector goes where?
The angled elbow connector always goes at the canister lid; the plain tubing connector at the other end of the same tube meets the catheter. If suction feels weak, check that the elbow connector is fully seated.
How do I clean the PureWick device?
Clean the external components according to the manufacturer’s guidelines in your instructions for use. Do not submerge the device in water.
Does RA Fischer supply a male PureWick system?
RA Fischer Co. supplies the PureWick Female External Catheter system. The setup and positioning steps on this page describe that system.
Questions About Your PureWick System?
RA Fischer Co. has supplied durable medical equipment since 1948. Our Treatment Specialists can answer setup questions, arrange monthly wick refills, or verify what your insurance plan covers — including if you bought your system elsewhere.
PureWick is a trademark of Becton, Dickinson and Company. RA Fischer Co. is an authorized supplier.
