Catheters for Males
Catheters for Males
Urinary catheters for males come in several different styles and sizes. Your doctor will help you get started with an average size male catheter and give you instructions on how to use it.
The usual catheter sizes for males range from 14-18 French sizes and are about 16 inches long. Different types of catheters for males include:
- Pocket catheter
- Coudé catheter
- Closed system catheter
- Indwelling catheter
- Intermittent catheter
- Male External Catheter System (MECS)
How Painful is a Catheter for a Male?
Catheterization may be difficult and uncomfortable for many patients at first. Your physician may order hydrogel or hydrophilic catheters for men to minimize your pain or discomfort and to reduce friction during insertion. Some catheters utilize a water vapor inside the package to hydrate the catheter without the need to add water or a water packet.
Be sure to follow all instructions from your doctor to make sure you are completing the process correctly and cleanly. If you continue to have discomfort or pain when inserting a catheter, talk to your doctor about it; they can suggest other types of catheters for you to try.
How to Make a Catheter More Comfortable
If you are using an intermittent catheter on a regular basis, you should know the basic tips on how to make a catheter more comfortable.
- If there’s too much friction, you may want to try a hydrophilic catheter. The SpeediCath® from Coloplast is pre-lubricated and ready to use with a hydrophilic coating, as is the Convatec GentleCath™ Glide catheter.
- You can also try a discreet, on-the-go catheter, like the GentleCath Air™ when you need something that can fit in your pocket.
- If you are having trouble or pain while cathing, you may want to consider a coudé catheter, which has a curved tip that can make insertion easier. You could try a coudé catheter for free to see if it is less painful for you. Please note that ordering a coudé catheter does require a prescription, so make sure to see your doctor if you would like to try this type of catheter.
- It may seem obvious, but make sure to try different catheter sizes for males to see if a smaller one is more comfortable.
Find out more information about Convatec’s line of GentleCath™ catheters here:
Learn about Coloplast’s line of SpeediCath® coudé catheters here:
Types of Catheters for Males
Foley vs. Intermittent Catheters
Foley Catheters are indwelling catheters that will be inserted by your doctor and left for up to a month to address urinary incontinence in males. Intermittent catheters are used as needed by you or your caretaker, about 4-6 times per day, to address urinary retention.
Coudé Catheters
Coudé catheters have curved tips for easier and less painful insertion. If you’re concerned about how painful a catheter is for a male or you’ve experienced a lot of pain using one, please see your doctor to ask about using a coudé catheter, as it does require a specific prescription.
Closed System
Closed system catheters are ideal for those males who are prone to infections or have compromised immune systems. Everything, including gloves, is contained in a sterile bag that you open just before use.
External Male Catheter
External catheters (also known as condom catheters) for males are a less invasive way of addressing incontinence. They are inserted as a sheath over the penis, and urine drains into a leg bag.
Manufacturer Training
Two leading manufacturers of catheters for all genders and ages are Cure/Convatec and Coloplast. Both have stellar product lines with lots of helpful training information, instructional videos, and how-to guides.
At Strive, we are happy to provide you with samples from each of these lines as well as any other brands to try until you find the urinary catheter for males that best fits your needs.
Coloplast Resources
Coloplast has plenty of training resources for you to access for more information about male catheters and how to use them.
Cure Medical Resources
Cure has easy-to-follow resources on their website. Learn more about their hydrophilic catheter for men and other supplies.
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