Self Catheterization

For Men:

• Wash your hands.

• Wash your penis and the skin around it with warm, soapy water or a moist towelette.

• Get comfortable. Standing or lying down often works best. Or sit on the edge of your seat.

• Lubricate about 2 to 4 inches of the catheter tip. Place the catheter's other end in the toilet or basin.

• Grasp the tip of your penis. Pull the penis out and up and hold it at a 45° angle to your stomach.

• Insert the catheter slowly into your urethra.

• If the catheter becomes hard to insert, relax, take a deep breath, and bear down as if trying to urinate. If you feel sharp pain, remove the catheter and try again.

• When urine begins to flow, stop inserting the catheter. You can relax your grip on your penis.

• When urine stops, slowly remove the catheter.

• Wash the catheter, rinse it thoroughly, and let it air-dry.

• Store the catheter in a clean, dry plastic bag or other clean storage container.

For Women:

• A clean catheter (Your doctor will prescribe the one that's best for you.)

• Water-soluble lubricating jelly (not petroleum jelly)

• Soap and water or moist towelettes

• A toilet or basin in which to collect the urine

• A clean, dry storage container (such as a plastic bag)

• A mirror (Use it to help you find your urethra at first, but practice finding it without one.)

• Wash your hands.

• Wash your genitals with warm, soapy water or a moist towelette. Always wash from front to back.

• Sit, stand, or lie down in a comfortable position.

• If desired, lubricate about 1 to 2 inches of the catheter tip. Place the catheter's other end in the toilet or basin.

• Spread the lips of your vulva.

• To find your urethra without a mirror, place your last three fingers on you vagina, then feel for your urethra with your index finger.

• Keeping the lips of the vulva spread, insert the catheter slowly into your urethra.

• If the catheter becomes hard to insert, relax, take a deep breath, and bear down as if trying to urinate.

• When urine begins to flow, stop inserting the catheter.

• When urine stops, slowly remove the catheter.

• Wash the catheter, rinse it thoroughly, and let it air-dry.

• Store the catheter in a clean, dry plastic bag or other clean storage container.