Female Catheters
To search for Southlake Medical's catheters by brand, please choose from the list located under "Catheters By Brand" on the menu to your left. If you do not find a specific catheter that you are looking for, please call our Catheter Specialist at 1-866-481-9002.
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Southlake Medical carries a wide range of female intermittent, hydrophilic and closed system catheters available through major manufacturers - Astra Tech, Bard, Coloplast-Mentor, Hollister, MTG (Medical Technologies of Georgia), Rusch, Cure and Rochester. We diligently research the top brands - Self-Cath®, MMG™, FloCath, Easy Cath™, Bardia®, LoFric®, APOGEE -Personal Catheter® - to insure that we always are aware of the latest products and technologies and pass that knowledge on to you.
Below is information for the most common types of female catheters available on the market today. If you have any questions regarding the management and care of urinary incontinence, please call our Catheter Specialists at 1-866-481-9002.
About Female Catheters
What is a female catheter?
A female catheter is a small tube that is inserted into the urethral meatus, the external opening to the urethra, in order to drain urine for collection. When possible, a thin catheter should be used to reduce the risk of harming the patient during insertion.
Urinary catheters are used to drain the bladder. Your health care provider may recommend a catheter for short-term or long-term use because you have or had:
- Urinary incontinence (leakage of urine or the inability to control when you urinate)For more information on Urinary incontinence, click here.
- Urinary retention (inability to empty the bladder when needed)
- Surgery that made a catheter necessary, such as gynecological surgery
- Other medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, or dementia
Catheters come in many sizes, materials (latex, plastic, Teflon), and types (Foley, straight, coude tip). A Foley catheter, for example, is a soft, plastic or rubber tube that is inserted into the bladder to drain the urine and is designed to remain inserted for a few days.
In general, the smallest possible catheter will be used. Some people may need larger catheters to control urine leakage around the catheter or if the urine is thick and bloody or contains large amounts of sediment.
Female Catheter Sizes
The diameter of a catheter is measured in millimeters. Authorities recommend using the narrowest and softest tube that will serve the purpose. Rarely is a catheter larger than size 18 F(rench) required, and sizes 14 or 16 F are used more often. Catheters greater than size 16 F have been associated with patient discomfort and urine bypassing. A size 12 catheter has been successfully used in children and in female patients with urinary restriction.
Southlake Medical offers three main types of female catheters:
- Intermittent catheters
- Intermittent Hydrophilic catheters
- Closed System catheters
Female Intermittent Catheters
Purpose
Intermittent catheterization is used for the following reasons:
- Obtaining a sterile urine specimen for diagnostic evaluation.
- Emptying bladder contents when an individual is unable to void (urinate) due to urinary retention, bladder distention, or obstruction.
- Measuring residual urine after urinating.
- Instilling medication for a localized therapeutic effect in the bladder.
- Instilling contrast material (dye) into the bladder for cystourethralgraphy (x-ray study of the bladder and urethra).
- Emptying the bladder for increased space in the pelvic cavity to protect the bladder during labor and delivery or during pelvic and abdominal surgery.
- Monitoring accurately the urinary output and fluid balance of critically ill patients.
Intermittent catheterization may be necessary for:
- Anyone who is unable to properly empty the bladder
- People with nervous system (neurological) disorders
- Women who have had certain gynecological surgeries
The goal of intermittent catheterization is to:
- Completely empty the bladder
- Prevent further bladder or kidney damage
- Prevent urinary tract infections
To search for Southlake Medical's catheters by brand, please choose from the list located under "Catheters By Brand" on the menu to your left. If you do not find a specific catheter that you are looking for, please call our Catheter Specialist at 1-866-481-9002.
Female Intermittent Hydrophilic Catheters
Hydrophilic-coated intermittent catheters are characterized by having a layer of polymer coating that is bound to the catheter surface. The polymer absorbs and binds water to the catheter, resulting in a thick, smooth and slippery surface. The coating layer remains intact upon introduction into the urethra and ensures lubrication of the urethra in its entire length. The catheters have been shown to lead to better patient satisfaction with the technique and are assumed to reduce the risk of urethral damage by decreasing the friction exerted when the catheter is inserted and withdrawn.
To contact a Southlake Medical Catheter Specialist, please call us at 1-866-481-9002.