The Advantages of Intermittent Catheters

People who have just started dealing with incontinence tend to dislike the prospect of changing out their catheters multiple times a day. This is why many people are resistant to intermittent catheters at first. However, these are the most commonly used catheter type among those with incontinence. If you’d like to know why that is, continue reading this list of the advantages of intermittent catheters.

They Allow for More Freedom

One of the biggest fears people have when turning to catheters for incontinence relief is that their lives will become much more difficult. If you decide to go with a permanent catheter with a leg bag, some things will be more difficult due to the extra equipment you’ll be carrying around.

However, with an intermittent catheter, you’ll have very few restrictions. Movement in general will be much easier, and you won’t have to worry about your leg bag overflowing or spilling.

They Aren’t That Difficult To Use

As previously stated, many people don’t like the idea of inserting and removing catheters multiple times a day. This is mainly because the process looks like it would be quite painful and tedious. However, this is far from the case. The first few times you change the catheter might feel a little uncomfortable and take longer than usual, but after you get the process down, you’ll be able to change out an intermittent catheter in no time.

If you start to feel pain at any point when putting in a new catheter, you should stop using them and see a doctor immediately. While rare, blockages can occur, and inserting a new catheter could worsen the problem.

They Don’t Cost Very Much

The other concern that keeps people from trying out intermittent catheters is the potential cost of constantly needing to buy replacements. Obviously, if you use multiple catheters a day, you’ll go through them much more quickly than if you were to use permanent catheters. However, intermittent urinary catheters are also significantly cheaper than their longer-lasting counterparts.

They’re Better for You in the Long Run

Probably the most significant advantage of intermittent catheters is the fact that they’re much better for you in the long run. These catheters are much better at fully emptying your bladder, which will lead to fewer complications, such as UTIs and kidney failure.

Another plus is that their temporary nature reduces the chances of leaks, blockages, and infections. These problems are all more likely with permanent catheter options.