Kidney, Bladder and Genitals Home Care

Self Catheterization (Clean Technique): Females

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What is self catheterization?

Catheterization is removing urine from the bladder by placing a tube in the bladder. This is done when the bladder doesn't empty on its own, when a bladder leaks urine, or when very high pressures have developed in the bladder. It is important to prevent a urinary tract infection. Extra urine in the bladder can grow germs. Over time, chronic infections and high bladder pressures can damage the kidneys.

Self catheterization is not difficult. You cannot hurt the bladder if you follow directions. Almost anyone can learn the technique, even a 7- or 8-year-old child.

Terms

Bladder: A muscular sac that holds urine until it is emptied from the body.
Bladder overdistention: A bladder filled beyond normal capacity.
Catheter: A tube used for emptying urine from the bladder.
Labia: Folds of skin covering the urethral and vaginal openings.
Lubricant: A water soluble, jelly-like substance used to prevent irritation. (Do not use a petroleum-based product, such as Vaseline". Use a product such as K-Y" Jelly, which will not damage the catheter).
Sphincter muscle: A circular muscle constricting an opening (in this case, the bladder).
Urethra: The tube in the body that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body.
Vagina: The canal leading from the uterus to the outside of the body.
Void: To urinate, to empty the bladder.

Function of the urinary tract

Urine is liquid waste that is made in the kidneys through a blood filtering process. Urine passes from the kidneys, down through the ureters and into the bladder. The bladder is an elastic muscle that acts like a storage tank. As the bladder fills, its walls relax to hold more urine and the sphincter muscle remains tight to prevent leakage of urine.

Supplies

Assemble these supplies after washing your hands.

Lubricant -- K-Y" Jelly or Lubifax"
Paper towel
Catheter
Paper cup (if a specimen is needed)
Soap and water (a mild soap, such as Liquid Ivory" or Dial")

Procedure

Wash your hands using soap and water.
Before catheterizing yourself, try to urinate.
Make the cotton balls or gauze squares soapy using soap and water.
While lying down, separate your labia (vaginal folds) with one hand. Use downward strokes with the wipes or gauze to wash the area thoroughly.
Lubricate the first 3 inches of the catheter. Hold the catheter as if it were a pencil or a dart, about 1/2 inch from its tip. Make sure the other end of the catheter is in the cup or set to drain into the toilet.
Keeping the labia separated, slowly insert the lubricated catheter about 1 to 2-1/2 inches into your urethra. Press down on your abdominal muscles to empty your bladder.
Urine will flow through the catheter into the cup or toilet. Allow urine to flow until it stops.
Remove the catheter slowly, allowing all urine to drain. Wash your hands.
Note the appearance and amount of urine. If something unusual happens, report it to your doctor.
To clean the catheters, follow the instructions given by your doctor or nurse.

Call your doctor if:

You experience any of the following symptoms:

Cloudy or dark urine
Blood in urine
Nausea or vomiting
Chills or fever
Flank pain
Lethargy
Frequency of urination
Urgency
Painful urination
Swelling or redness around urethral opening
Change in smell of urine
Noticeable decrease in the amount of urine
Unusual discharge from urethra or around catheter

Special tips

It is very important that you catheterize yourself on time, every time, and that you do not skip it. Evenly space catheterizing times from morning to night. Drink a lot of liquids to improve the flow of urine through the kidneys.