Intermittent catheterisation is an effective technique for people who need catheter-based bladder management. Intermittent catheterisation is considered the ‘gold-standard’ of care for bladder emptying, and this approach is supported by several international and national guidelines on urinary incontinence.

The principles of using intermittent catheterisation are based on regular and complete emptying of the bladder to maintain a low bladder pressure and minimal residual urine volumes, consequently securing bladder and renal health. Correctly performed intermittent catheterisation is a safe method suitable for long-term use, minimising the risk of urological complications (e.g. those relating to bladder and kidney dysfunction, urinary tract infection (UTI)

Urinary tract infection

A urinary tract infection is a bacterial infection that affects any part of the urinary tract. Symptoms include frequent feeling and/or need to urinate, pain during urination, and cloudy urine. The main causal agent is Escherichia coli...

, urethral strictures

Urethral stricture

A urethral stricture is a narrowing of the urethra caused by injury or disease such as urinary tract infections or other forms of urethritis.-Signs and symptoms:...

 and male infertility

Male infertility

Male infertility refers to the inability of a male to achieve a pregnancy in a fertile female. In humans it accounts for 40-50% of infertility. Male infertility is commonly due to deficiencies in the semen, and semen quality is used as a surrogate measure of male fecundity.-Pre-testicular...

) and improving a person’s quality of life.

People who benefit from intermittent catheterisation include those with neurogenic (spinal cord injury, spina bifida and multiple sclerosis) and non-neurogenic bladder disorders (infravesical obstruction due to prostate enlargement, urethral strictures and post-operative urinary retention).