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. It is used when you cannot urinate normally. To treat urinary retention (inability to empty the bladder when needed) when there is obstruction in the urinary tract.