What is Male Intermittent Self-Catheterization and How to Perform It Safely?
- Void into the hat.
- Measure the amount of urine and record it in the voided volume column on your record sheet.
- Carefully wash and dry your hands.
- For male patients, sit on the toilet or lie on a bed with back and head propped up.
- If necessary, retract the foreskin.
- Clean the head of the penis with a soapy washcloth or an antibacterial wipe.
- Hold the penis upright and insert the lubricated catheter into the urethral opening of the penis.
- Thread it in slowly until urine flows, usually a distance of 6-8 inches.
- When urine flows, allow all the urine to drain into the hat.
- Slowly pull the catheter out.
- Measure the amount of urine in the hat and note the volume in the post-void residual column of your record.
- Discard the urine into the toilet and wash out the hat.
- Wash and dry your hands.
- Never force the catheter during insertion.
- If you meet resistance and cannot advance the catheter, remove the catheter and notify your healthcare provider.
- Always measure the amount of urine in the hat and write it down in the post-void residual column of your output record.
While you were in the hospital, you received instructions on how to insert a catheter into your own bladder and practiced the procedure until you could do it on your own.
Before you self-catheterize at home, you will need to assemble the following equipment:
- Urine collecting hat
- Warm soapy water in a basin
- Clean washcloth
- Catheter
- Lubricant
- Clean hand towel
Void into the hat. Measure the amount of urine and record it in the voided volume column on your record sheet.
Carefully, wash and dry your hands.
The male can sit on the toilet or lie on a bed with back and head propped up.
If necessary, retract the foreskin. Clean the head of the penis with a soapy washcloth or an antibacterial wipe.
Hold the penis upright, and insert the lubricated catheter into the urethral opening of the penis.
Thread it in slowly until urine flows, usually a distance of 6-8 inches. When urine flows, allow all the urine to drain into the hat.
Slowly, pull the catheter out.
Measure the amount of urine in the hat and note the volume in the post-void residual column of your record. Discard the urine into the toilet and wash out the hat.
Wash and dry your hands.
- During the insertion, never force the catheter.
- If you meet resistance and cannot advance the catheter, remove the catheter and notify your healthcare provider.
Always, measure the amount of urine in the hat and write it down in the post-void residual column of your output record.
