Intermittent catheters vary in terms of types, materials, and sizes. Major catheter brands are Coloplast, Cure Medical and Hollister.

Catheters can be Latex, Silicone or Vinyl based.

• Latex catheters are very flexible and soft.
• Silicone catheters are comparatively smoother, more durable, and firmer than latex.
• Vinyl catheters are the firmest type, but they can still be maneuvered easily.

While choosing an intermittent catheter, it is necessary to consider the type of tip that the catheter has (i.e. coude, straight-tip catheters). The most common types of intermittent catheters are Straight catheters, Coude-tip catheters, Hydrophilic catheters, and Closed-system catheters.

Straight Catheters

Straight-tip intermittent catheters are the extensively used short-term catheters. They are either made from silicone or latex and come in a variety of lengths. Most straight catheters comes without any coating, which means that you will need to use lubrication, either by using a sterile lubricant or individual packets.

Coude Catheters

Coude tip catheters are slightly bent or curved towards the tip, allowing the catheter to by-pass critical areas such as blockages or enlarged prostates. Usually a coude-tip catheter is used when catheter patient complains pain and discomfort when inserting a straight-tip catheter.

Common conditions that may need coude-tip catheterization include benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostate surgery, false passages in urethra, radiation in the pelvic area (due to cancer treatments), and urethral trauma.

• Coude Olive Tip Catheter – a type of coude tip intermittent catheter that has a slight bent tip with a rounded balled tip for insertion around an enlarged prostate or strictures, the ball on the end can feel more comfortable if using a catheter has been uncomfortable for you in the past
• Coude Tiemann Catheter – a type of coude tip catheter with a longer thin tapered tip that is small and rounded for ease of insertion around strictures and/or an enlarged prostate, this style can be great for when a regular coude tip isn’t working well for you

Hydrophilic Catheters

Hydrophilic catheters are similar to straight catheters, but are coated with a lubricated surface. The water or saline packet is used to wet the device and activate the lubricated coating. Some brands, like SpeediCath, provide hydrophilic catheters that are ready to use and do not require additional supplies.

Hydrophilic catheters allows smooth insertion and removal of the device without the need of a separate lubricant. These catheters are a good option for frequent catheter users, or for those who complain pressure, discomfort, or pain during catheterization procedure.

Closed-System Catheters

Closed-system catheters are convenient, easy to use, and carry a lower risk of infection and bacteria build up. They come pre-lubricated and they are inside of a bag, so no contact is made with the catheter. Urine is drained into the bag, which can then be disposed of.

Urine collection bags allow catheterization without the need to search for a toilet, separate bag, or container. Closed-system catheters are a good option for people who get frequent UTIs or for wheelchair patients.