How to Catheterize Yourself (Woman)

GENERAL INFORMATION:

What Is It? A catheter is a thin plastic or rubber tube which is put into your bladder to drain urine. The bladder is a hollow organ that holds urine. Normally urine travels from the bladder through a tube called the urethra (u-REE-thruh) to the urinary meatus (me-A-tuss). The meatus is the opening where urine leaves the body. With intermittent (in-ter-MIT-int) catheterization (kath-uh-ter-i-ZA-shun), the catheter is put inside your bladder when you need to urinate.

Why do you need it? You may need a catheter because you cannot pass urine by yourself. You may need it because of an infection or to collect urine for lab tests. You may need catheterization if you have a disease or injury.

Checklist for catheterizing yourself:

• __ 1. Gather all the items you will need.
  
   
  • Catheter.
    
     
  • Water-soluble lubricating jelly, such as K-Y Jelly™.
    
     
  • Bowl or container to collect urine.
    
     
  • Bowl of warm water, soap, washcloth, and hand towel.
    
     
  • Mirror and good lighting.
    
     
  • Waterproof pad or bath towel.
  
   
• __ 2. Wash your hands with warm water and soap.
  
   
• __ 3. Get into position for inserting your catheter. Lie or sit down with your legs open and knees bent. Put a towel or waterproof pad under you. You may also sit on the toilet or stand with one foot on the edge of the toilet. Make sure the other end of the catheter is pointed into a container or down toward the toilet.
  
   
• __ 4. Use a mirror to find your urinary meatus. Find your labia, clitoris, meatus, and vagina (birth canal).
  
   
• __ 5. Clean yourself. Separate your labia and wash from front to back using soap, warm water, and a washcloth. Do not scrub up and down. This could bring germs from your anus (rear end) into the vagina and urethra. Rinse and dry.
  
   
• __ 6. Put lubricating jelly on the tip of the catheter.
  
   
• __ 7. Insert the catheter.
  
   
  • Hold the labia apart with one hand. Slowly put the catheter into the meatus using your other hand.
    
     
  • Gently push the catheter about 2 to 3 inches into the urethra until urine begins to come out. Once urine starts to flow, push the catheter up 1 inch more and hold it in place until the urine stops.
  
   
• __ 8. Remove the catheter when you are finished. Remove the catheter when you are finished. When urine no longer comes out of the catheter, pinch it closed with the hand that was holding your labia. Gently and slowly pull the catheter out. Keep the end of the catheter up to prevent dribbling of urine.
  
   
• __ 9. Clean your catheter. If your catheter is a single-use catheter, throw it away. If your catheter is reusable, clean it following your caregiver's instructions.

When should you catheterize yourself? Catheterize yourself at least 4 times each day and at bedtime.

How can you help prevent an infection?

• Always wash your hands with soap and water before and after catheterizing yourself.
  
   
• Clean all reusable catheters with soap and warm water after every use.
  
   
• Disinfect (dis-in-FEKT) all reusable catheters in a pan of boiling water for 20 minutes. This kills germs that can cause infections.
  
   
• Air-dry the catheters on a clean paper towel.
  
   
• Store the dry catheters in a clean plastic bag.
  
   
• Throw away torn, hardened, or cracked catheters.
  
   
• Wear cotton underpants to allow airflow and drying in your genital area.
  
   
• Drink 6 to 8 cups of healthy liquids each day. Follow your caregiver's advice if you must change the amount of liquid you drink. For most people, healthy liquids to drink are water, juices, and milk. Limit the amount of caffeine in your diet. Caffeine may make you urinate too much and lose too much body fluid. Caffeine may be found in coffee, tea, soda pop, and sports drinks and foods. Try to drink enough liquid each day, and not just when you feel thirsty.

How to deal with catheter problems:

• No urine comes out of the catheter: Use a mirror to make sure the catheter is in your meatus and not in your vagina. If the catheter is in your vagina, take out the catheter. Use a new catheter and insert it into the meatus. If your catheter is in the meatus, gently rotate the catheter in case it is blocked. Try gently pushing the catheter a little further up into the urethra or pulling it back. Check also that the catheter opening is not blocked by lubricant or mucus.
  
   
• Urine leakage between catheterizations or during sex: Urine leakage may happen if you have been drinking more liquids than usual, especially those containing caffeine or alcohol. It could also mean that you have a bladder infection. If you have a problem with urine leakage, try catheterizing yourself more often. If you think you have an infection, call your caregiver. Catheterize yourself before having sex with your partner. Also, decrease the amount of liquids you normally drink 1 or 2 hours before having sex. Put a pad or towel underneath you to keeping the bedding dry and fresh.
  
   
• Difficulty inserting or removing the catheter: If inserting your catheter is painful or uncomfortable, use more lubricant. Pain or discomfort may also be caused by muscle spasms. If you are feeling nervous or anxious about the catheter, take a deep breath and try to relax first. Breathe in, then as you slowly let your breath out, insert or remove the catheter.
  
   
• Blood on the catheter or in your urine: This may be caused if your meatus or urethra is too dry. Try using more lubricating jelly to prevent irritating your meatus and urethra. Make sure you drink enough liquids. Blood in the urine could also mean you have an infection.

Call your caregiver if:

• You have signs of infection:
  
   
  • Your urine is thick, cloudy, or has mucus in it.
    
     
  • You have red specks in your urine, or your urine looks pink or red.
    
     
  • Your urine has a strong smell.
    
     
  • You have pain or burning in your bladder, abdomen, or in your urethra.
    
     
  • You have chills or your temperature is over ____ °F (____ °C).
  
   
• You have questions or concerns about your illness or self-catheterization.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn how to catheterize yourself. You can then discuss choices with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what choices may be best for you. You always have the right to refuse and make your own decisions.

Copyright (c) 2007 Thomson MICROMEDEX. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes. The information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Additionally, the manufacture and distribution of herbal substances are not regulated in the United States, and no quality standards currently exist. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Please read the end user acknowledgement.