# Intermittent catheterisation

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Medical technique

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**Intermittent catheterization** is a medical technique used in conditions where patients need either short-term catheter-based management of the [urinary bladder](/source/Urinary_bladder) or as a daily habit for life. Intermittent catheterization is considered the "gold standard" for medical bladder emptying. Intermittent catheterization can be done by the patient or a caregiver in a home environment.

## Advantages

People with neurogenic bladder disorders like [spinal cord](/source/Spinal_cord) injury, [spina bifida](/source/Spina_bifida) or [multiple sclerosis](/source/Multiple_sclerosis), and non-neurogenic bladder disorders like obstruction due to [prostate enlargement](/source/Benign_prostatic_hyperplasia), [urethral strictures](/source/Urethral_stricture) or post-operative urinary retention, need to be continuously catheterised to empty their urinary bladders. But such continuous catheterization can lead to problems like [urinary tract infections (UTI)](/source/Urinary_tract_infection), [urethral strictures](/source/Urethral_stricture) or [male infertility](/source/Male_infertility). Intermittent catheterization at regular intervals avoids such negative effects of continuous long term catheterization, but maintaining a low bladder pressure throughout the day.

## Technique

It is unclear which catheter designs, techniques or strategies affect the incidence of UTI, which are preferable to users and which are most cost effective. Intermittent catheters come in a variety of designs and differ depending on the user's genitals, with a catheter for a [penis](/source/Penis) being longer and a catheter for a [vulva](/source/Vulva) being shorter. The catheter is inserted into the urethra by the patient or a carer and can either be directed down a toilet or, if measurement of volume is required, into a measuring jug. A jug may also be used by wheelchair users, rather than struggling to get over a toilet.[1][*[needs update](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style/Dates_and_numbers#Chronological_items)*]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Prieto, J; Murphy, CL; Moore, KN; Fader, M (Sep 10, 2014). ["Intermittent catheterisation for long-term bladder management"](https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/379225/1/Intermittent%2520catheterisation%2520for%2520long-term%2520bladder%2520management%2520Accepted%2520Manuscript.pdf) (PDF). *The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews*. **9** (9) CD006008. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1002/14651858.CD006008.pub3](https://doi.org/10.1002%2F14651858.CD006008.pub3). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [25208303](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25208303). (Retracted, see [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1002/14651858.CD006008.pub4](https://doi.org/10.1002%2F14651858.CD006008.pub4), [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [28796279](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28796279))

**General**

- Taylor-LeMone: Fundamentals of Nursing. 7th edition, page 1246

- [http://www.nature.com/sc/journal/v40/n9/full/3101312a.html](http://www.nature.com/sc/journal/v40/n9/full/3101312a.html)

- [https://www.nursingtimes.net/clinical-archive/continence/reasons-for-intermittent-catheterisation-12-10-2010/](https://www.nursingtimes.net/clinical-archive/continence/reasons-for-intermittent-catheterisation-12-10-2010/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Intermittent catheterisation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermittent_catheterisation) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermittent_catheterisation?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.