Medical Oncologist
CION Cancer Clinics
Learning self-catheterisation, and living with it | CION Cancer Clinics
Self-catheterisation means passing a thin tube into your bladder yourself, draining the urine and taking the tube straight out. Most women learn it in one or two sessions with a nurse. After a radical hysterectomy it protects a bladder that is slow to empty while its nerves recover. This page walks through the steps, everyday life, common fears and how long it may last. CION Cancer Clinics’ surgical oncologists in Hyderabad can talk this through with you.
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Medically reviewed by Dr. Mohammed ImaduddinConsultant Surgical Oncologist · MBBS, MS (General Surgery), MCh (Surgical Oncology) · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
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The short answer
What is self-catheterisation, and can you really learn it?
Self-catheterisation means passing a thin, clean tube into your bladder yourself, letting the urine drain and taking the tube straight out. Most women learn it in one or two teaching sessions with a nurse, and it quickly becomes a routine that takes a few minutes.
Why it is offered after a radical hysterectomy
The operation removes tissue that carries nerves to the bladder. For some women the bladder does not empty fully for a while afterwards. Urine left behind stretches the bladder and invites infection. Draining it yourself at set times keeps the bladder empty without a tube staying in all day.
Why many women prefer it to a catheter left in
There is no bag to carry and no tube to tape down. You can wear your usual clothes and sleep without a night bag. The chance of infection is generally lower than with a catheter that stays in.
Who it may not suit
It needs steady hands, reasonable eyesight and the ability to sit or stand in a position to reach. Severe arthritis, a tremor, very poor vision or memory problems can make it hard. In that case a family member may be taught instead, or your team may suggest another option.
Learning it does not mean you will need it for good. Many women stop once the bladder recovers.Step by step
How is self-catheterisation done?
This is the usual order. Your nurse will adjust it for you and watch you do it before you go home.
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Get ready
Pass what urine you can on the toilet first. Wash your hands with soap and water. Lay out the catheter, a clean wipe or water, and a container if you are measuring what drains.
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Find a comfortable position
Most women sit well back on the toilet with knees apart, or stand with one foot on the edge of the toilet. A small mirror helps you find the opening you pass urine from, which sits just above the vaginal opening.
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Clean and part
Part the outer lips with one hand and wipe from front to back. Keep that hand in place so the area stays open.
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Pass the tube gently
Slide the tip in slowly until urine starts to flow, then a little further. Never force it. If it will not pass, stop, breathe and try again.
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Drain and remove
When the flow stops, pull the tube out slowly, pausing if more urine comes. Throw away a single-use catheter, wash your hands, and note the amount if asked.
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistEveryday life
How do you fit it into ordinary days?
At home
Keep catheters in a clean, dry place near the bathroom. Set phone reminders for the times your nurse gives you, because the urge to pass urine may be weak or missing.
Supplies
Your team will tell you the type and size. Some come ready-coated with a slippery surface. Ask where to buy them near home, and keep a week's stock so a shop closure does not catch you out.
Travelling and work
Carry a small kit: catheters, wipes, a hand sanitiser and a spare underwear. Public toilets are harder, so plan stops at hotels, hospitals or petrol stations with cleaner facilities.
Family and privacy
Many women keep this private. Tell one person who can help if you are unwell. For a daughter or son caring for a mother, offer help without taking over, and follow her lead on privacy.
Good to agree on
- Who buys supplies
- Who calls the team if something changes
Commonly believed
What fears stop women from trying it?
"I will damage something inside if I push it in myself."
The tube is soft and made for this. Passed gently, and never forced, it is very unlikely to cause harm. A little stinging or a spot of blood in the first days is common and usually settles.
"It must be done in a sterile hospital room."
At home, clean is enough: washed hands, a clean catheter and a wipe. Your nurse will show you the standard to keep, and most women manage it in an ordinary bathroom.
"If I start, I will depend on it forever."
Draining the bladder does not stop it from recovering. It protects it while the nerves heal. Many women need it less and less, and then stop when their team confirms the bladder is emptying well.
"An older mother cannot learn this."
Age alone is not the barrier. Eyesight, hand strength and memory matter more. Many older women learn it well, sometimes with a daughter or daughter-in-law present at the teaching.
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When to seek help the same day
If you cannot pass the catheter and cannot pass urine on your own, and your lower belly is swelling or painful, go to an emergency department the same day. Do the same for a fever with shivering, pain in the back or side, or bright red urine with clots. Do not keep pushing a tube that will not pass.
Words you may hear
What do the terms your nurse uses mean?
- ISC or CISC
- Short for intermittent self-catheterisation, sometimes "clean" intermittent self-catheterisation.
- Residual volume
- The urine left in the bladder after you pass urine normally. Your team uses it to decide how often you need to drain.
- Hydrophilic catheter
- A tube with a coating that turns slippery when wet, so it slides in more easily.
- Urethra
- The short tube from the bladder to the opening you pass urine from.
- Bladder diary
- A simple chart of drinks, urine passed and urine drained, kept for a few days before a review.
Looking ahead
How long will you need to keep doing it?
This page cannot tell you how long you will need it. For some women it is a few weeks. For others it is months, and a small group need it for longer. Your team decides from your bladder diary and the amount left behind at each check, not from a fixed calendar.
How the plan usually changes
As the bladder recovers, you pass more urine on your own and drain less with the tube. Your nurse may reduce how often you catheterise. When the leftover amount stays low, you may be asked to stop and come back for a check to be sure.
What to bring to each review
Bring your bladder diary, a list of any infections you have had and the name of the catheter you use. Mention any stinging, bleeding or difficulty passing the tube, even if it has settled.
If radiotherapy follows surgery
Radiotherapy to the pelvis can irritate the bladder. Ask the radiation team whether you should carry on as before during treatment, and who to call if catheterising becomes more uncomfortable.
Do not stop on your own because you feel you are passing plenty. Only a scan shows what is left behind.Questions we are asked
Common questions about self-catheterisation
How long does it take to learn self-catheterisation?
Most women learn it in one or two sessions with a nurse, and feel confident after a few days of doing it at home. The first attempts feel awkward, which is normal. Ask for another session if you are struggling rather than skipping drainage times. A family member can attend too.
Does self-catheterisation hurt?
It is usually uncomfortable rather than painful, especially at first. A mild sting that fades is common. Relaxing, breathing out slowly and using a well-lubricated or coated tube help. Sharp pain, or a tube that will not pass, is a reason to stop and call your team.
How many times a day do I need to do it?
Your team sets this from how much urine is left in the bladder after you pass urine. It is usually several times a day at first and often less as the bladder recovers. Follow the times you are given, even if you do not feel the urge.
Can I reuse a catheter to save money?
Most catheters are made for a single use, and reusing them raises the chance of infection. Some types are designed to be washed and reused. Ask your nurse which kind you have and what is safe, and check with the helpline whether your scheme or insurance covers supplies.
Is a little blood normal when I catheterise?
A spot of blood or pink urine in the first days is common and usually settles as you become gentler with the tube. Bright red urine, clots, or bleeding that keeps coming back needs a call to your team the same day.
What if I cannot find the right opening?
This is the most common difficulty at the start. Use a mirror and good light, and part the lips well. If the tube goes into the vagina, it will not drain; throw it away and use a new one. Your nurse can show you again.
Can I do it during my periods or after sex?
After a radical hysterectomy you no longer have periods. Once sex is safe again, it is sensible to pass urine or drain the bladder soon afterwards, which lowers the chance of infection. Ask your team when sex is safe after surgery.
Can a family member do it for me?
Yes, if you cannot manage it yourself and you are comfortable with it. The person should be taught by a nurse, wash their hands carefully and follow the same steps. Many women prefer to learn it themselves if they can, for privacy.
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Sources
- NHS — Urinary catheters
- Cancer Research UK — Surgery for cervical cancer
- Macmillan Cancer Support — Cervical cancer
- National Cancer Institute — Cervical Cancer Treatment (PDQ) - Patient Version
This page is general information, not a prescription. Do not change or stop any treatment based on what you read here. If anything is worrying you, contact your own treating team — or call our helpline and we will help you reach the right specialist.
Keep reading
Related pages
Bladder Dysfunction After Radical HysterectomyWhy the bladder can be slow to emptyGoing Home With a Catheter After Radical HysterectomyThe catheter stage that often comes firstCaretaker and Family Guide to SurgeryHow family members can help without taking overFollow-Up After Radical HysterectomyThe reviews where the plan is changed
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