Urinary incontinence (UI) is a problem that has become common among both male and female populations. As per the statistics reported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in the US alone, nearly 32.4% of adult women suffer from incontinence issues. Many of them report incontinence symptoms even on a monthly basis. As a management tool, healthcare providers recommend using female condom catheters. But what exactly are these devices and how are they used? What benefits do they bring? Who are the right candidates for female condom catheters?
Urinary incontinence is a common issue among adult women
In this article, let us try to answer the question regarding female condom catheters. In addition, some of the best brands have also been linked for the reader’s convenience.
What are Female Condom Catheters?
Female condom catheters are the externally used systems employed for urinary management. These stick to the skin of the external genitalia and remain in place for about 24 hours. Being non-invasive, these devices are safe to use and do not become the cause of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI). Owing to their overall superior features, female condom catheters are considered better than invasive ones.
Are Female Condom Catheters Better Than Indwelling Catheters?
In comparison to indwelling catheters, female condom catheters are effective because, in women, the risk of a catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is much higher than in men. The reason is the relatively shorter length of the urethra as well as its lesser distance from the vagina and the anus.
Keeping this in mind, healthcare providers often prefer female condom catheters instead of indwelling urinary catheter options. As female condom catheters are non-invasive and are not inserted into the urinary bladder, the risk of transfer of germs into the body is reduced. As a result, infection prevention becomes effective.
Female condom Catheters: Placement and Working
To attach a female condom catheter in place, the given steps must be followed:
· Place the Adsorbent Fabric
Female condom catheters come with a soft and absorbent fabric with a cylindrical shape that is positioned between the labia. To secure it in place, the use of adhesive pads is recommended which keeps the catheter attached to the lower abdomen. This way, the product can be worn while sitting or lying down.
· Collection of Urine
Once in place, the fabric collects the urine by absorbing it and transferring it into the cylinder.
· Suctioning of Urine
From here, the holding canister sucks and stores the urine. To conduct this process, low-pressure suctioning is employed.
Indwelling catheters are effective for UI management but pose a higher risk of infections
Benefits of Female Condom Catheters
Just like invasive catheters, these female external catheters provide a number of benefits when employed for the management of urinary incontinence:
· Ease of Usage
Female condom catheters are budget-friendly and easy-to-use devices. These are comfortable for the patient as they serve as an alternative to indwelling urinary catheters which are painful to place and remove.
· Lesser Risk of Infections
As mentioned above, the female condom catheters pose a minor risk of urinary tract infections. This is because of their non-invasive nature which does not let the germs penetrate the urinary tract.
· Reduced Skin Problems
With the use of catheters, skin breakdowns are also common. This involves redness, irritation, as well as sores in some cases most of which occur due to the exposure to urinary traces. With the use of female condom catheters, the skin remains dry, and, therefore, breakdowns are prevented.
Applications
The use of female condom catheters is often recommended for patients dealing with any of the following issues:
· Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is a problem often experienced by women at different stages of their lives. For instance, in old age, during or after pregnancy, etc. Female external catheters are, in such cases, a suitable management tool.
· Mobility Issues
If women have limited mobility and cannot get to the bathroom soon enough, the chances of urinary leakages are common. Therefore, employing a condom catheter can help manage the problem.
· Dementia
If the patient has dementia, it is often seen that they cannot comprehend or let the caregiver know if they need to use the bathroom. At this stage, the use of female condom catheters is the best choice.
· Overactive Bladder
Overactive bladder (OAB) is a condition in which the muscles of the bladder contract on their own. As a result, the urine flow starts which results in leaking. In such cases, doctors often recommend using female condom catheters that give the edge of preventing sudden emptying of the urine.
· Post-Surgical Urinary Management
In some cases, female condom catheters are also used in patients who have undergone a surgical procedure and need urinary assistance until the initial phase of recovery.
Overactive bladder is one of the prominent reasons for urinary incontinence among women
Possible Challenges
While using female condom catheters, some of the following issues are often reported by the patients:
· Dislodgement
With female condom catheters, dislodgement is a common issue. This is often associated with excessive movement or side-lying.
· Unsuitability for Large Urine Volume
Female condom catheters are not a good option for handling large volumes of urine especially when released at a rapid rate. This is because the container size is limited and cannot handle excessive leakages. This is often seen among patients who are on diuretics.
· Difficult Self-Application
To fix female condom catheters in place, the services of a skilled healthcare provider or a trained caregiver are required as it is difficult for the patient to place the device by themselves.
· Time-Consuming Placement
The placement of female condom catheters often requires a significant amount of time. This is more common during the initial stages of usage.
Management
To rectify the issues while using female condom catheters, some of the recommended measures by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have also been given:
| Issues | Solutions |
| Dislodgement | Secure properly |
| Inability to handle excessive volumes | Use of other types of catheters is recommended |
| Difficult application | Take 1-to-1 demonstrations from your healthcare provider |
| Time consumption | Gets easier with frequent use |
Symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of urinary incontinence
Female Condom Catheters at Health Supply 770: Features and Specifications
Female condom catheters, just like male condom catheters, are the devices employed for collecting urine leakages. These are non-invasive systems that are non-sterile and single-use. The product may take time during placement but is effective in its job.
While learning about female condom catheters, it is also important to become familiar with some of the best products available in the US market. Some of these reliable female condom catheter brands are also available at Health Supply 770 and have been detailed below along with their features and purchase links:
Bard 1183571 Female External Catheter PureWick™ 10 L X1.5 W Inch
Bard 1183571 Female External Catheter PureWick™ 10 L X1.5 W Inch
US$920.88
Product Details
Bard 1183571 PureWick™ female external catheters are the externally used systems employed for the management of urinary incontinence. These come in a suitable size with a length of 10 inches and a width of about 1.5 inches.
Moreover, these Bard 1183571 PureWick™ female external catheters are non-sterile items that are suitable for single-use only. This feature eliminates the need to wash and clean the catheter again and again. Once their use is done, these Bard 1183571 PureWick™ female external catheters must be discarded immediately.
Bard 1183571 Female External Catheter PureWick™ 10 L X1.5 W Inch
Bard 1183571 Female External Catheter PureWick™ 10 L X1.5 W Inch
US$650.88
Product Details
Bard # 1118073 PureWick™ female external catheters are systems that are one of the best options for managing urinary incontinence issues. The product comes in a standard size that claims to fit most based on its ‘One Size Fits Most’ principle.
These Bard # 1118073 PureWick™ female external catheters work on vacuum suctioning. This means that as soon as the catheter is placed, it sucks the urine out of the urinary bladder and sends it into the canister for storage.
Moreover, these Bard # 1118073 PureWick™ female external catheters are suitable for single use only and cannot be employed more than once. In addition, the construction material is soft and flexible. Its non-irritant nature is evident due to the absence of known skin irritants. However, the product does contain latex and, therefore, it should be used with caution among patients with extremely sensitive skin types.
Bard # 1158749 Female External Catheter PUREWICK® 10 L X1.5 W Inch
Bard # 1158749 Female External Catheter PUREWICK® 10 L X1.5 W Inch
US$630.88
Product Details
Bard # 1158749 PUREWICK® female external catheter has a length of 10 inches and comes with a width of up to 1.5 inches. The product is non-sterile and can be employed only once due to its single-use nature.
Moreover, these Bard # 1158749 PUREWICK® female external catheters do not contain latex which is an irritant material. This renders them suitable for people with sensitive skin types. The product is suitable for use for about 8 to 10 hours. It is recommended not to use these Bard # 1158749 PUREWICK® female external catheters if the packaging has been broken due to the associated risk of contamination.
Bard # 1180668 Female Catheter for Vacuum Suction Kit PureWick™ One Size Fit Most
Bard # 1180668 Female Catheter for Vacuum Suction Kit PureWick™ One Size Fit Most
US$1,100.88
Product Details
Bard # 1180668 PureWick™ female catheter for vacuum suction kit has been designed on the principle of ‘One Size Fit Most’. That’s why, these devices come in a standard size. The product is of a non-sterile nature and can only be used once for almost 8 to 12 hours.
In addition, these Bard # 1180668 PureWick™ female catheters work by suctioning the urine from the bladder. The low-pressure suctioning does not disturb the patient and, thus, their comfort is enhanced. The female condom catheter kits usually include urine collection canisters with lids, pump tubing, as well as collector tubing with elbow connectors.
*Note: The prices mentioned in the article are taken from the Health Supply 770 website. These may vary depending on the vendor.
Female condom catheters are suitable for bedridden, hospitalized patients
The female condom catheters mentioned in this article, along with many other medical supplies, can be purchased from Health Supply 770, a reliable name when it comes to medical products. They have a 30-day money-back guarantee and provide your products to you in the shortest possible time. Click the link at the end of the article to check the wide range of female condom catheters.
Conclusion
Urinary incontinence is a problem that affects the quality of life of many women all over the world. This reduces their self-esteem and does not allow them to be outdoors very often. As a management tool, the use of female condom catheters is recommended. These are external use devices that remain in place for longer and do not allow the urine to leak.
While learning about female condom catheters, it should be kept in mind that these should be used after consulting your healthcare provider. Although female condom catheters can be placed by the patients themselves, the services of a healthcare provider or a caregiver.
Considering the importance of female condom catheters, these should be purchased and kept in storage for future use. For purchasing different brands of female condom catheters, reliable vendors like Health Supply 770 should be approached. They ensure the provision of quality products along with satisfactory services.
References
https://www.cdc.gov/infection-control/media/pdfs/Strive-CAUTI103-508.pdf
PhD Scholar (Pharmaceutics), MPhil (Pharmaceutics), Pharm D, B. Sc.
Uzma Zafar is a dedicated and highly motivated pharmaceutical professional currently pursuing her PhD in Pharmaceutics at the Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab. With a comprehensive academic and research background, Uzma has consistently excelled in her studies, securing first division throughout her educational journey.
Uzma’s passion for the pharmaceutical field is evident from her active engagement during her Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) program, where she not only mastered industrial techniques and clinical case studies but also delved into marketing strategies and management skills.
