Catheter FAQs

Please click on a question below:

• What is a urinary catheter?
• How do I insert a catheter?
• How long does it take to empty my bladder with a catheter?
• How will I know that the catheter has entered my bladder?
• How do I clean and sterilize catheters?
• What does it feel like after I have removed the catheter?
• How do I find a doctor who will prescribe catheters?
• How do I get a catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CA-UTI)?
• What are the symptoms of a urinary tract infection?
• Can catheter-associated urinary tract infections be treated?
• What can I do to help prevent urinary tract infections if I have a catheter?

What is a urinary catheter?

A urinary catheter is a thin tube placed in the bladder to drain urine. Urine drains through the tube into a bag that collects the urine. A urinary catheter may be used:

• If you are not able to urinate on your own
• To measure the amount of urine that you make, for example, during intensive care
• During and after some types of surgery
• During some tests of the kidneys and bladder

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How do I insert a catheter?

A catheter can easily be inserted in just a few minutes. Though a medical professional is not needed to insert a catheter, training from a medical professional is recommended to ensure that the user can insert the catheter without causing damage to the urethra. To insert a catheter, you lubricate the tube with KY jelly. Then you carefully insert the tube into the urethra through the penis for men or through the small opening located just below the clitoris and above the vagina in women. Once the tube reaches the bladder, the urine should automatically start flowing through the tube.

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How long does it take to empty my bladder with a catheter?

This depends on the diameter of the catheter and how much urine needs to be expelled. A few seconds to a minute is normative. It takes a minute or less to lubricate a catheter and insert it.

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How will I know that the catheter has entered my bladder?

Urine will start to flow. Once the flow starts you will not be able to stop it until your bladder is completely empty. When the flow stops it is time to remove the catheter. While extremely unlikely to happen, any kind of catheter, including the really small ones put into blood vessels can be over inserted and become knotted. A urinary catheter should only be inserted to the point that urine is obtained - stop.

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How do I clean and sterilize catheters?

There are two types of catheters. Disposable catheters are designed for single use. Disposable catheters are packed in sterile packages and are sterile when first taken from their package. Try to avoid touching the lower sterile end of such a catheter. We have a large selection of both male catheters and female catheters available.

Reusable catheters do not need to be sterile. It is sufficient to clean them with water and a little soap, then rinse them well with water and again if possible with ordinary rubbing alcohol. Let them dry. If you need to quickly reuse them, rinsing with water is sufficient. Tap water will do nicely. We recommend against using the water available in airplane lavatories or other places where the water is stored in containers.

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What does it feel like after I have removed the catheter?

There may be a slight residual urge that will quickly pass. There might be a slight burning sensation. The first time you urinate after having used a catheter there might be a brief mild burning sensation.

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How do I find a doctor who will prescribe catheters?

Talk to your primary doctor or call around to various urologists in your community. It seems that about 50% of the urologists will readily agree to teach you how to use catheters and the other 50% will adamantly refuse to help you. So call around before making an appointment. Ask to speak with the nurse. Explain that you will want to be taught how to do intermittent self-catheterization. Ask if the doctor is likely to agree to teach that to you. Do not agree to any expensive tests until you obtain a commitment that you will be taught how to use catheters.

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How do I get a catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CA-UTI)?

If germs enter the urinary tract, they may cause an infection. Many of the germs that cause a catheter-associated urinary tract infection are common germs found in your intestines that do not usually cause an infection there. Germs can enter the urinary tract when the catheter is being put in or while the catheter remains in the bladder.

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What are the symptoms of a urinary tract infection?

Some of the common symptoms of a urinary tract infection are:

• Burning or pain in the lower abdomen (that is, below the stomach)
• Fever
• Bloody urine may be a sign of infection, but is also caused by other problems
• Burning during urination or an increase in the frequency of urination after the catheter is removed.

Sometimes people with catheter-associated urinary tract infections do not have these symptoms of infection.

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