Female Catheters
If you’ve been dealing with the symptoms of being unable to control when and where you void your bladder, a possible treatment option may include female intermittent catheters. Female catheters can help drain your bladder and prevent accidental leakage due to overflow incontinence.
You’re not alone on this journey. Women of all ages can encounter issues with their bladders due to various issues, from menopause and pregnancy to urinary bladder retention or neurogenic bladder due to a diagnosis like multiple sclerosis.
Let’s go over the options of female intermittent catheters.
What are the Different Types of Female Catheters?
When researching where to buy female catheters, the first thing to consider is which type of female catheter is right for you. These types include:
Straight Female Intermittent Catheters
Straight catheters are uncoated catheter tubes, which are typically made of PVC/vinyl, silicone, or red rubber. You must manually lubricate straight urinary catheters before using them. Many insurance companies will cover sterile individual packets of catheter lubricant in addition to the number of straight female catheters you need. This helps facilitate a sterile and smooth self-cathing experience.
Hydrophilic and Pre-Lubricated Female Catheters
Hydrophilic catheters are similar to straight catheters. However, they offer an additional benefit in their hydrophilic coatings, which you can activate with water (usually included in a poppable water sachet inside the catheter package). Also, some hydrophilic catheters come ready to use with no need to activate them. Female hydrophilic catheters provide a smooth, slippery catheterization from insertion to withdrawal, which reduces friction inside the urethra. No additional lubricant is required.
Closed System Female Catheters
Closed system catheters are an all-in-one product. These types of female catheters typically include a pre-lubricated or hydrophilic catheter and a urine collection bag. Many brands also include female catheterization insertion supplies, such as gloves, disinfecting wipes, and an underpad.
Closed system catheters are ideal for anyone, although many women in wheelchairs or frequent travelers may find them especially convenient since everything you need for a hygienic catheterization is included.
Female Catheter French Sizes
Your prescribing healthcare professional can help you find the right French size for your anatomy. Using the right female catheter French sizes will aid you in getting the most optimal catheterization experience.
If your catheter’s diameter is too large, it could be uncomfortable or even painful. On the other hand, if it’s too small, urine may seep around the catheter tube, which can make a mess.
Female Catheter Length
Female-length catheters typically average 6 to 8 inches long, although some brands make female pocket catheter options that are shorter than this.
Many women prefer the convenience of short catheters. However, some may prefer a unisex catheter (most often called male length). Male length catheters provide the additional tube length that some catheter users may need or prefer.
Your choice between male/unisex length and female length is usually based on personal preference. Our Product Specialists at 180 Medical can help you learn more about your options to get the best catheter for your needs.
How to Use Female Catheters
You can find full instructions and more helpful information at www.howtocath.com.
We also provide helpful step-by-step color booklets and instructional DVDs, which we can send with your order.
Where to Buy Female Catheter Supplies Near Me
First, be sure you’ve seen your doctor to get a valid diagnosis and prescription. This is because catheters are prescription-only medical devices.
Next, contact 180 Medical, a leading provider of catheters. We carry catheter supplies of all types and sizes to accommodate our customers’ diverse needs and preferences. We also supply catheters from a wide range of brands from the major catheter manufacturers today.
Feel free to contact 180 Medical by filling out the form on this page or calling ref=”tel:877-688-2729″>1 (877) 688-2729 to speak with one of our friendly specialists.
With over 20 years of specialized experience in the catheter industry, we make it a point to employ caring individuals who will treat your concerns with care and dignity. We have many women on staff who can walk you through your options and answer any questions you may have, whether it’s about how to learn to catheterize on your own for the first time or more about your female length catheter options.
Contact us today! We’re ready to help you.
