How to Choose the Right Intermittent Catheterization

Choosing the right intermittent catheter is a critical part of effective bladder management. While intermittent catheterization (IC) is widely recognized as a safer alternative to long-term indwelling catheterization, the clinical benefits of IC depend heavily on selecting the appropriate catheter design, material, and configuration for each use scenario.

For healthcare providers, distributors, and procurement professionals, understanding how different catheter features affect safety, comfort, and usability is essential.

Understand the Patient and Use Environment

The first step in choosing the right intermittent catheter is understanding who will use it and in what setting. Intermittent catheterization is commonly prescribed for patients with neurogenic bladder, postoperative urinary retention, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or certain congenital urological conditions.

Equally important is the care environment. A catheter used in a hospital or rehabilitation center may prioritize standardization and cost efficiency, while home-care users often value ease of use, portability, and discreet packaging. Patients who self-catheterize multiple times a day typically require catheters designed to minimize friction and handling complexity.

There is no universal solution effective catheter selection always balances patient needs, clinical goals, and practical use conditions.

Select the Appropriate Catheter Size (CH)

Catheter size, commonly measured in Charrière (CH), plays a key role in both comfort and drainage efficiency. A catheter that is too large may cause discomfort or urethral irritation, while one that is too small may result in slow drainage or blockage.

Most adult intermittent catheter users fall within CH 12 to CH 16, though individual anatomy and clinical guidance should always determine final selection. Pediatric patients require smaller sizes, and consistency in sizing is especially important for long-term users.

From a procurement perspective, offering a complete range of CH sizes ensures flexibility and reduces the risk of inappropriate substitution.

Choose the Right Material: Medical-Grade PVC

Medical-grade PVC remains one of the most widely used materials for intermittent catheters due to its reliability, safety profile, and cost-effectiveness. Advances in material processing allow modern PVC catheters to achieve an optimal balance between flexibility and column strength.

This balance is essential: the catheter must be soft enough to reduce discomfort while remaining firm enough to allow controlled insertion. For manufacturers and OEM partners, PVC also offers advantages in scalability, consistent quality, and compatibility with various designs and coatings.

Consider Hydrophilic vs. Non-Hydrophilic Catheters

Surface lubrication is a key factor in patient comfort and urethral protection. Hydrophilic intermittent catheters feature a coating that becomes highly lubricious when activated, significantly reducing friction during insertion and removal.

Hydrophilic catheters are particularly suitable for:

• Long-term IC users
• Patients who catheterize multiple times per day
• Home-care and self-catheterization scenarios

Ready-to-use hydrophilic catheters further simplify the process by eliminating the need for additional lubricant, reducing preparation steps and potential handling errors.

Non-hydrophilic catheters may still be appropriate in certain institutional settings, especially when external lubrication is standard practice and cost considerations are a priority.

Evaluate Tip Design: Straight or Coudé

Tip configuration directly affects ease of insertion. Straight-tip catheters are suitable for most standard catheterization procedures and are widely used across healthcare settings.

Coudé-tip catheters, with a curved tip design, are often preferred for male patients with anatomical challenges such as urethral narrowing or prostate enlargement. Providing both options allows healthcare professionals to tailor catheter choice to patient anatomy, reducing resistance and improving overall experience.

Packaging and Sterility Matter

Intermittent catheters are typically single-use, sterile devices. Packaging plays a vital role in maintaining sterility while supporting ease of use.

Individually packaged catheters help reduce contamination risk and simplify inventory control in hospitals and clinics. For home-care users, compact and discreet packaging improves portability and confidence, especially for active patients.

Clear labeling, consistent packaging formats, and multilingual instructions are also important considerations for international distribution.

Regulatory Compliance and Supply Reliability

When choosing intermittent catheters for institutional use or market distribution, regulatory compliance is non-negotiable. Products should meet applicable ISO standards and regional regulatory requirements such as CE marking or FDA registration.

Equally important is supply reliability. Consistent manufacturing quality, stable lead times, and dependable logistics are essential for long-term catheterization programs, particularly in high-volume or multi-market operations.

Conclusion

Choosing the right intermittent catheter goes beyond clinical technique it is a product-driven decision shaped by catheter size, material, surface properties, tip design, packaging, and regulatory compliance. When these factors are aligned with patient needs and real-world use environments, intermittent catheterization can deliver safer bladder management, improved comfort, and long-term efficiency.

BEVER Medical supports healthcare providers, distributors, and medical device brands with a comprehensive range of intermittent catheter solutions, including medical-grade PVC and hydrophilic ready-to-use options. With a focus on consistent quality, regulatory compliance, and OEM flexibility, BEVER Medical helps partners deliver reliable catheterization solutions across hospital, long-term care, and home-care settings worldwide.