As new technologies and materials emerge, catheters are being updated in terms of material and design. The choice of catheter must take into account the patient's overall condition, such as the degree of injury, hand function, visual impairment, urethral sensitivity, gender, age, and financial status. Patients often need to try several different types of catheters before making a final choice. Clinical nurses should understand the characteristics of each type of catheter in order to guide patients to make a correct and reasonable choice.

Types of intermittent catheters
The common types of catheters available today include uncoated catheters, coated catheters and closed systems.
Uncoated catheters, also known as plain catheters, are commonly used for clean intermittent catheterization techniques and are recommended to be lubricated for use. Some of them are made of latex and some are not. Latex-free catheters are by far the most commonly used and are made of medical-grade plastic, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or silicone, and are available in a variety of softnesses and diameters across a wide range.
Depending on the design, coated catheters can be used for clean intermittent catheterization and sterile intermittent catheterization techniques. Catheters are available in antibiotic-coated and hydrophilic-coated versions and are not reusable.
Antibiotic-coated catheters may have a local antimicrobial effect, and some antibiotic-coated catheters also have a hydrophilic coating. The problem with these catheters is that the patient may be allergic to the antibiotic coating and there is a possibility of superinfection.
A hydrophilic coated catheter is a hydrophilic polymer, primarily polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), that is wrapped around the entire PVC catheter. It is a safe, non-allergenic substance that has been used in medical products and in the cosmetics industry.
As with indwelling catheters, 6 to 12 Fr are used for children and 10 to 16 Fr for adults (10 to 14 Fr for men and 14 to 16 Fr for women). Due to anatomical differences, patients of different genders can choose different lengths of catheters depending on their needs. Men may choose a 12-inch (approximately 40 cm) length. Women and children do not need catheters longer than 6 inches (approximately 20 cm) because of the short urethra.