Male urinary catheters need to be inserted through the external genitalia, also known as the penis.
The male urethra serves both ejaculatory and urinary functions, connecting upward to the internal urethral opening of the bladder and downward to the external urethral opening of the head of the penis.
The male urethra has a certain degree of expansion, the average diameter of the adult urethra is 5~7mm, and the length is 16~22cm. the male urethra can be divided into three parts from bottom to top: spongy part, membrane part, and prostate part. Clinically, the spongy part is called the anterior urethra, and the membranous and prostate parts are called the posterior urethra.
Urethral insertion is the retrograde insertion of a urethra from the external urethral opening until it enters the internal urethral opening of the bladder. The male urethra is physically curved and narrowed, making it difficult to insert a urinary catheter and causing some pain and discomfort. During male catheterization, you need to relax, do not tense up, and listen to the healthcare provider’s instructions to do deep breathing exercises.
Male catheterization is generally applicable to people who cannot urinate on their own, or with urinary retention. If there is any discomfort during the catheterization process or after the urinary catheter is inserted, it is important to give timely feedback to the doctor, and not to pull out the catheter on your own, so as not to cause damage to the urethra.