what is a straight catheter

A straight catheter, also known as an intermittent catheter, is a thin, flexible tube used to pass urine from the body. It is inserted through the urethra and into the bladder, and urine flows through little openings called eyelets and exits through the catheter funnel. Once the bladder is empty, the catheter is carefully removed and thrown away. Unlike indwelling catheters, straight catheters do not attach to collection bags, which means that they need to be used in a bathroom or other place where urine may be properly disposed of. Straight catheters come in different lengths and types, and some types are used one time only while others can be cleaned and reused. They are usually made of plastic (PVC) and are only used once and then thrown away. The use of straight catheters is a way to completely empty the bladder when needed.