Over 100,000 catheters are used worldwide each year. These simple devices can effectively treat trouble urinating by helping to bypass narrowed or blocked sections in the urethra. They can also help address urinary incontinence.
Unfortunately, pain can be an unwanted side effect of catheter use. Friction and complications like urinary tract infections are often the culprits.
Fortunately, with the right tools and strategies, men can use catheters pain-free.
What Are Catheters?
Catheters are thin, flexible tubes used to help drain bodily fluids. Urinary catheters are typically used to help empty the bladder.
Types of Catheters For Men
There are three types of urinary catheters: indwelling, intermittent, and external.
Indwelling catheters are also called Foley catheters. Products like the Dover Silicone Foley Catheter (Coude Tip) are inserted by a doctor and held in place with an internal balloon.
It can last up to 12 weeks, though most urologists recommend going no more than six without changing the catheter out. Typically, indwelling catheters are removed by a nurse or doctor.
Intermittent catheters are only used during urination. Users insert catheters like the Speedicath Flex Coude Pro Standard when they’re ready to pee, to help the bladder empty completely. Then, the catheters is disposed of.
An external, condom-style catheter for men does not enter the urethra. Instead, a product like the InView Silicone Male External Catheter covers the outside of the penis. It’s designed to catch any urine leaks, addressing incontinence.
Do Catheters Hurt Usually?
Catheters can be uncomfortable, but they shouldn’t be painful. When a catheter hurts, it could be a sign of an infection, friction, or a similar problem.
What Makes Catheters Painful?
Most catheter pain stems from one of three sources: insertion trouble, infections, or friction from internal rubbing / chafing. The good news is, all three causes can be addressed.
How To Prevent Catheter Pain In Men
To make using your catheter less painful, practice insertion techniques and prevent pain-causing complications (like UTIs).
Insert Catheter Correctly
Inserting an intermittent catheter correctly can take some practice. Your urologist or nurse can help you learn how to insert the IC properly.
You can also practice while using guides like, “How to Correctly Insert an Intermittent Catheter,” as a resource.
External catheters have slightly different attachment instructions. These devices aren’t inserted into the urethra. Instead, they roll over outside the organ.
Practicing how to attach an external catheter can help prevent painful chafing. Refer to product-specific guides, like InView’s instructions, “How to Use InView Silicone Male External Catheter.”
Use Lubricant or Pre-Lubricated ICs
Lubricant can help catheters slide in and out smoothly, preventing chafing. Look for pH-balanced lubricants like Surgilube. It can prevent urethra drying and reduce the transmission of germs as the catheter moves.
Or, consider intermittent catheters with pre-applied hydrophilic lubricants, to help keep moisture locked in.
Practice Good Hygiene
Follow hygiene best practices when inserting and removing your catheter, and when interacting with tubes and bags:
- Don’t reuse disposable products
- Wash your hands before and after using the device
- Use effective cleansers
- Ensure cleansers are safe for sensitive skin areas
Cleaning wipes like MoliCare Hypoallergenic Gentle Pre-Moistened Adult Washcloths are specifically designed to be safely used on your genitals, cleaning without drying or cracking your skin.
Any non-disposable urinary drainage components should be cleaned daily. Cleansers like the Hollister m9 Cleaner/Decrystallizer clear away bacteria and viruses, eliminating odors and preventing buildup.
Treat UTIs Swiftly
Urinary tract infections can be serious. Getting antibiotic treatment as soon as possible is key.
UTIs can be diagnosed at urgent care centers and clinics, as well as by your doctor. Take all prescribed treats directed.
How To Make A Catheter More Comfortable
In addition to making insertion more comfortable, there are options to make catheters more comfortable while in use.
The most effective options are stabilization and choosing the right catheter product for your needs.
Stabilize Catheter to Prevent Movement
Catheter stabilizers prevent the catheter from moving around inside the urethra after it’s inserted. This prevents chafing, and it keeps the catheter from accidentally falling out.
Options like the StayFIX Fixation Device use waterproof, medical-grade adhesive on a flexible fabric that can stretch to fit your body. The adhesive fabric can work around folds or unusual angles to secure any kind of catheter component to your skin.
Other stabilizers, like the CATH-SECURE Multi-Purpose Tube Holder, incorporate a plastic tab along with the adhesive. It latches around the catheter tube while holding it flat to skin.
Switch To A Different Catheter Type
Urologists have found intermittent catheters have far fewer complications than indwelling catheters. External catheters have even fewer complications, and don’t require urethral insertion.
While not every urinary problem can be treated by any catheter, it can be worthwhile to ask your doctor if a change could work for you.
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Edited for content by JORDAN GAYSO.
