Materials

• Sink

• Catheter kit

• Antimicrobial wipes (if not in the kit)

• Water-based lubricant

• Basin or toilet

Steps

1. Wash hands with soap and water

2. When possible, use an antiseptic wipe, iodine swab, or soap & water to clean your genital area and reduce chance of infection

3. Take the catheter out of its packaging making sure to minimize unnecessary touching or contamination of the catheter, especially at the tip

4. If not pre-lubricated, coat the catheter tip with a generous amount of water-based lubricant (or lidocaine jelly if prescribed by your physician)

   • For men, it may be helpful to gently pull the penis away from the body to straighten the urethra while inserting the catheter

   • For women, use your non-catheter hand to spread the labia/lips of the vagina and locate the urethral opening prior to inserting the catheter, you may need to use a mirror to find it

5. Gently insert the catheter until urine starts flowing, advanced the catheter another 1-2 cm beyond that point and hold until urine stops flowing

6. SLOWLY withdraw the catheter, pausing if urine starts flowing again

7. If using a disposable catheter, dispose of after each use and use a new sterile catheter each time. If reusing, clean the catheter with soap and warm water before storing in a plastic bag until next time. Reusable catheters can be used for 2-4 wks each, dispose if it becomes discolors, hard, brittle, or simply doesn’t work anymore.

Tips

• Do NOT force the catheter, if it does not pass with gently steady pressure after 3-4 seconds:

• Try slightly adjusting the angle of the catheter or remove the catheter, apply more lube, and reinsert it

• For men, try applying more traction on the penis, pulling it 90 degrees away from your body

• If bleeding occurs from catheterizing, contact your physician. Excessive trauma can cause swelling and make catheterizing even more difficult

• Pay attention to what and how much you drink, adjust your cathing accordingly. If you drink alcohol or caffeine, for instance, you may want to try catheterizing 2 hours earlier than you normally would.