Types of Female Catheters

The following are the common types of female catheters used to manage urinary incontinence. If you do not find the information regarding the specific female catheter information you are looking for or have any additional questions, please call a Catheter Supply-Care Specialist at 1-866-643-3953.

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

Intermittent Catheters

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

Intermittent catheters come in antibacterial and hydrophilic varieties. The antibacterial catheter features a site-specific controlled release of nitrofurazone that significantly reduces urinary tract infections associated with catheter use. Nitrofurazone has been found to be effective against common Gram-positive and Gram-negative urinary bacterial pathogens. This specialized coating is known to inhibit bacterial adherence and preserve the integrity of the urethral mucosa.

Hydrophilic-coated catheters have a layer of polymer coating bound to the surface of the catheter. The polymer absorbs and binds water to the catheter, producing a thick, smooth and slippery surface that remains intact upon introduction into the woman's urethra and lubricates the urethra in its entire length. Use of hydrophilic catheters have led to increased patient satisfaction with this type of technique and is assumed to reduce the risk of urethral damage by decreasing the friction applied when the catheter is inserted and withdrawn.

Female External Catheters

Women have the option of utilizing external collection devices designed to funnel the urine by way of a pouch attached to a tube and collection bag. Unfortunately, female external catheters have not proven to be completely practical for bedbound elderly women or those who use wheelchairs.

Indwelling Catheters

An indwelling urethral catheter, also known as a foley catheter, is a closed, sterile system inserted into the urethra that allows the bladder to drain. The female indwelling catheter is 6 inches long and comes in French sizes 12Fr-18Fr. Widely considered to be a unisex catheter, the indwelling urethral catheter is used by both women and men with urinary incontinence caused by obstruction (blockage in the urethra) or urinary retention (incomplete bladder emptying) unable to be treated through other methods like sterile intermittent catheterization, medication or surgery. The indwelling catheter length of 16 inches for men is also used by women requiring the extra length for specific medical applications.

Moreover, indwelling catheters are used in sick people when the incontinence interferes with the monitoring of urinary output, in severely impaired or terminally ill women for whom moving is painful, and women with skin irritation or pressure ulcers caused by incontinence. Indwelling urethral catheters are also used when a woman is homebound, lives alone and a family member or a caregiver is not available to help. Indwelling catheters need to be replaced at least every four weeks.

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

When a suprapubic procedure occurs, a doctor may insert an indwelling or intermittent catheter through a small incision 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.