Female Catheters
Self-Catheterizing is Easy!
Catheters are sterile tubes inserted through your urethra to drain urine from the bladder.
Many women need catheters for many reasons– to help with urinary retention, urinary incontinence, neurogenic bladder, or other medical conditions like Multiple Sclerosis. No matter the reason, US Catheter Supply has many different cather options to fit your needs.
We supply intermittent catheters for females. An intermittent catheter is inserted through the urethra into the bladder to empty it, then removed, several times a day as needed.
With new technology, many catheters are light and discreet to carry for everyday use and are comfortable and painless to insert. Learn more about our catheters!
Female Length Catheters
The female urethra is shorter in length compared to the male urethra, so female catheters are typically shorter and average around 6 inches long, though we offer smaller, and more discreet and compact options.
Many women may also prefer longer catheters for easier handling. Females can use longer catheters, like unisex or male-length catheters. These can range up to 16 inches long.
Easy French Catheter Measurement and Sizing
It is important to determine the best catheter length to ensure the best drainage and comfort for your body.
All catheters are officially measured in the French measurement system, though there are easy ways to use this system to find which catheter length will be ideal for your needs. Most catheter brands use a universal color-coding measurement system to help identify the French size of the catheter you need.
Catheter sizing is integral to making sure your catheter drains efficiently. If your catheter is too small, it may not drain properly and can create a mess. If your catheter is too big then you may experience pain and discomfort, which is completely avoidable. Speak to a healthcare professional to figure out which one of our catheter sizes is the best fit for you!
Types of Intermittent Female Catheters Available
There are three types of intermittent catheters that females use and that we supply:
Straight Catheters, Hydrophilic Catheters, and Closed System Catheters.
Female-Length Straight Catheters
An older style of catheter, female-length straight intermittent catheters must be manually lubricated before insertion. You can buy your own lubricant to use, but we also supply catheter lubricant.
Straight catheters are lighter than catheters that need insertion supplies, so they are easy to carry and are nearly weightless. These are discreet and can be concealed in your pocket or purse.
Female-Length Hydrophilic Catheters
Similar to straight catheters, hydrophilic catheters are lightweight and easy to insert.
However, hydrophilic catheters use new technology to make catheter insertion and cleanup easier. Hydrophilic catheters have a special coating that acts as a lubricant when activated by water that stays smooth from insertion to withdrawal. No additional lubricant is needed!
Some hydrophilic catheters we offer have their own sterile water packet that you can soak the catheter in, then it is ready to use. Other brands we offer sell hydrophilic catheters that are already lubricated upon opening the package and are easily disposable once used.
Most hydrophilic catheters include a safe sleeve to help insert your catheter to reduce direct contact with the tube and avoid contamination.
Hydrophilic-coated catheters are better for reducing urethral trauma upon insertion or urinary tract infections.
Female-Length Closed System Catheters
Closed system catheters contain everything you need: the pre-lubricated or a hydrophilic sterile catheter, which connects to a self-contained collection bag.
Most brands’ closed system catheter kids also include insertion supplies, like gloves and antiseptic wipes. Most close system kits also include a pre-lubricated introducer tip, which keeps the catheter straight and lubricated, while also preventing the spread of bacteria into the urethra and bladder. This tip is great for reducing urinary tract infections.
These closed-system catheters are ideal for people who use wheelchairs since they can self-catheterize from their chairs.
