3 Type of Catheters for Men

Alex D'Souza, Medical Tech Outlook | Saturday, March 21, 2020

When it comes to male catheters, no single type or size fits for everyone. So it is suggested to assess the condition and find what may work best.

FREMONT, CA: Whether a person uses catheters for urinary retention, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), after prostate cancer treatment, or another medical condition, that person has a world of catheter options available. Besides, many insurance companies today are covering the use of sterile intermittent catheters. Here is a helpful guide to learn more about the three main types of intermittent catheters for men.

• Straight Male Catheters

Straight intermittent catheters are also called uncoated catheters because they require manual lubrication before insertion. Most users use single-use packets of sterile lubricating jelly, and others prefer larger tubes of catheter lubricant.  Straight catheters, like other types of male catheters, are available to users as pocket catheters. Straight pocket catheters usually come in a curved or U-shaped package, which users can discreetly tuck into their pocket, bag, or briefcase for seamless carrying.

• Pre-lubricated and Hydrophilic Male Catheters

Hydrophilic male catheters are like straight catheters, except for one single feature: their hydrophilic coating. This coating, when activated by water, turns to a sort of high-tech lubrication. It means it gets super slippery for a comfortable and smoother catheterization from starting to end. Some types of male hydrophilic catheters need manual activation of the hydrophilic coating by an included water packet, like the popular GentleCath Glide Male Catheter. It is also available in both straight and coudé tip. Most pre-lubricated and intermittent hydrophilic catheters provide a no-touch handling sleeve in their packaging to enable the user to handle the catheter more easily without touching the tube itself. This mitigates the risk of bacterial contamination from the hands.

• Male Closed System Catheters

A closed system catheter, also known as a touchless or no-touch catheter, has a pre-lubricated or hydrophilic male length catheter resided in its own self-contained sterile collection bag. This makes it apt for traveling. People in wheelchairs often prefer closed system catheter kits because they don’t have to go to a toilet or find a receptacle to drain into. With a closed system catheter, users can self-catheterize anywhere they have privacy.