A standard intermittent catheter for females has a straight tip. These catheters come in a variety of materials; PVC, Red Rubber or latex as well as Silicone, for individuals with latex allergies.

These intermittent catheters have a coating on the outside of the product that reacts with water and becomes very slick for insertion. Often times this type of catheter will come with a water sachet or packet that will need to be broken before opening the package. Once the packet is broken, it is recommended to “see-saw” the package back and forth to fully lubricate the catheter, you want a 360 degree coating. Other hydrophilic catheters will come pre-lubricated, meaning they are ready for insertion upon opening the package. Some pre-lubricated catheters are non-hydrophilic but are covered in a gel like, sterile lubricant that is ready-to-use upon opening.

These intermittent catheters are about the size of a cosmetic item, are pre-lubricated, and ready-to-use. They typically have shorter lengths than the usual female catheter length, 6”, but will reach the bladder and effectively drain for most people. This catheter was made for traveling or discreet carry and is about the size of a tube of lip gloss. The cure twist is one of our favorites, due to its discreet look and antileak technology, this has no mess and is ready to use.

Catheter insertion kits or catheter insertion trays provide everything to conduct a catheter insertion in one convenient, sterile compact container. These kits are available with or without an intermittent catheter, so that you can have more flexibility in your catheter choice. A typical catheter insertion kit includes; an Underpad, Exam Gloves, Collection Bag, Swab Sticks and/or other Sterilization Wipes, and Lubricating Jelly. Some kits and trays can include an intermittent catheter, a fenestrated drape, a specimen container, gauze, and a tray. The trays come standard in every insertion tray.

Closed System Intermittent Catheters allows you to maintain a sterile field throughout the process of intermittent catheterization reducing the risk of catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI’s). The closed system catheters have an added benefit of improving the ease of the self catheterization process by offering a convenient, discreet, secure and reliable catheterization regardless of where you are. The closed systems features a pre-lubricated straight intermittent catheter with an integrated collection bag. Some of the closed systems feature an ‘introducer tip’ that allows the catheter to skip through the first millimeter of the urethra, where most of the bacteria is found, therefore, reducing the risk of an infection even more. They are available in a kit configuration as well, which will typically include a closed system catheter, gloves, an underpad, sterile wipes and/or swabsticks, and an underpad.

Foley Catheters or Indwelling catheters are for long term use, unlike intermittent catheters, they stay in the bladder for an extended period of time and continuously drains the bladder, usually into a leg bag or drain bag. Once inserted into the bladder, there is a balloon that needs to be inflated to keep the catheter in place. This balloon typically ranges in size from 5 cc to 30 cc, which is inflated using a syringe full of water. There are, typically, two way and three-way Foleys and they come with a straight tip. In the two-way Foleys, one passage is used for drainage and the other is used for inflation of the balloon. In the three-way Foleys, there is an extra port for irrigation, most commonly to wash out bloods and clots. Note: you can irrigate using a two-way foley catheter, the passage for drainage will be your irrigation passage as well.