Types of Female Catheters

The following are the general types of female catheters used to manage urinary incontinence. If you do not find the specific female catheter information you are looking for or you have any additional questions please call a Catheter Supply-Care Specialist at 1-866-642-6840.

Liberator Catheter Supply-Care provides a wide range of catheters and urological supplies from leading manufacturers you know and trust like Bard, Cure, Coloplast, Hollister, Mentor, Rochester Medical and Rusch.

Intermittent Catheters

Female intermittent catheters are 6 inches long and come in French sizes 8Fr-24Fr. Intermittent catheters (IC) are used in women with spinal cord injuries (quadriplegics & paraplegics) and for those women with urinary retention (incomplete bladder emptying).

Intermittent catheters can also come in hydrophilic and antibacterial varieties.

The antibacterial variety catheter provides a site specific controlled release of nitrofurizone, which significantly reduces catheter-associated urinary tract infections. Nitrofurizone has established efficacy against common Gram-positive and Gram-negative urinary bacterial pathogens. Extensive historical searches of world literature show no clinically significant nitrofuran resistance has occurred after over 50 years of use. The coating is engineered to prevent bacterial adherence and preserve the integrity of the urethral mucosa. There are also anti-bacterial hydrophilic combination catheters.

Hydrophilic-coated 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 woman's urethra and ensures lubrication of the urethra in its entire length. The catheters have been shown to lead to better patient satisfaction with this type of technique and are assumed to reduce the risk of urethral damage by decreasing the friction exerted when the catheter is inserted and withdrawn.

Female External Catheters

There are external collection devices for women that funnel the urine via a pouch to a tube and collection bag. However, none have proven to be totally useful for elderly women in wheelchairs or those who are bedbound.

Indwelling Catheters

Indwelling urethral catheter, often called a foley catheter, is a closed, sterile system inserted into the urethra to allow the bladder to drain. The female indwelling catheter is 6 inches long and comes in French sizes 12fr-18fr. The indwelling catheter is considered to be a unisex catheter and is used by both men and women with urinary incontinence that is caused by obstruction (blockage in the urethra) or urinary retention (incomplete bladder emptying) that cannot be treated with other methods like surgery, medications or sterile intermittent catheterization. However, the male length indwelling catheter of 16 inches is also used by women who need the extra length for specific medical applications.

Indwelling catheters are also used in very sick people where the incontinence interferes with monitoring of urinary output and in terminally ill or severely impaired patients when moving is painful, or patients with skin irritation or pressure ulcers that are caused by incontinence. These types of catheters are also used in situations when a person is homebound, lives alone and a family member or a caregiver is not available to help. An indwelling catheter needs to be replaced at least every four weeks.

Indwelling catheters also come in hydrophilic and antibacterial varieties. Indwelling catheters are usually attached to drainage bags, overnight or leg drainage bags. An overnight bag is a bag with a long tube that is used during the night. The bag should be hung over the side of the bed below the level of your catheter so that the urine will flow easily.

When a suprapubic procedure occurs, doctors can use an indwelling or intermittent catheter which is inserted through a small incision (cut) made in the wall of a woman's lower abdomen just above her pubic bone and below her belly button. Hydrophilic catheters can also be used for this type of procedure. It is used for a short time after surgery on the bladder or after a woman has had a hysterectomy.