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For individuals experiencing voiding difficulties due to various medical conditions, "catheterization" is an essential component of treatment. Today, we focus on Intermittent Catheterization (IC), a widely used method for managing urinary retention. Think of IC as giving your bladder a "scheduled bathroom break." Every 4-6 hours (or as directed by your doctor), a thin, flexible catheter is gently inserted through the urethra into the bladder to drain urine, and is removed immediately afterward.

This stands in contrast to indwelling (or Foley) catheterization, where a catheter remains in place continuously, connected to an external drainage bag. IC, by being "in and out," allows the body to remain in a more natural state for most of the day, significantly respecting and preserving the patient's quality of life.

Clean intermittent catheterization refers to a method of regularly emptying urine by inserting a catheter into the bladder through the urethra under clean conditions. The definition of "clean" means that all catheterization supplies are thoroughly cleaned, the perineum and urethral meatus are washed with clean water (no disinfection required), and hands are scrubbed with soap or hand sanitizer before catheter insertion. Sterile operation is not necessary.

Currently, intermittent catheters on the market are mainly classified into three categories: uncoated catheters, coated catheters, and closed catheter systems.