Intermittent Self Catheretization

Catheterization involved passing a small tube, called a catheter, up into the bladder to empty it. Temporary catheterization is commonly required following surgery due to pain, swelling, or mobility problems. Women with neurological (nerve) problems of the bladder may need to catheterize permanently.

Catheterization is needed when the bladder is unable to empty properly. If the bladder is unable to empty properly it can cause a number of problems, including:

• Overstretching of the bladder wall. This can lead to permanent damage to the detrusor muscle and result in urinary incontinence and a permanent inability to empty the bladder effectively.

• Urinary tract infections or bladder stone formation due to pooling of stale urine.

• Overstretching and urinary tract infections may lead to kidney damage.

• Urgency complaints (a sudden an urgent need to pass urine).

• Urge incontinence – a sudden and urgent need to pass urine that results in leakage.

There are three types of catheterization techniques:

• Indwelling urethral catheters: a tube in your bladder through the urethra which will stay in place for a short period.

• Suprapubic catheters: a tube in your bladder introduced through the lower abdominal skin.

• Intermittent catheters: a small catheter is passed through the urethra and up into the bladder and removed after each void (urination).