Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
Who uses this page: clinic and supply staff, buyers and students who need to tell the three families of catheter used for female patients apart: indwelling, intermittent and external. Prescribers and clinicians decide which one a patient receives.
What a female catheter is
“Female catheter” has no single product meaning. It can refer to a tube that is passed into the bladder (indwelling or intermittent) or to an external device that collects urine without entering the urethra. The BD PureWick Female External Catheter, for example, is described by its manufacturer as intended for non-invasive urine output management in female patients, while the catheters FDA groups under 21 CFR 876.5130 are urological catheters passed into the urinary tract.
Types and variants
| Type | What it is (as stated by the source) | Key difference | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indwelling (balloon retention, “Foley” type) | FDA lists “Catheter, Retention Type, Balloon” as product code EZL, class II, under 21 CFR 876.5130 | Retained in the bladder by a balloon | openFDA classification database |
| Intermittent (straight) | FDA lists “Catheter, Straight” as product code EZD, class II, under 21 CFR 876.5130 | Not retained; MedlinePlus says some catheters are meant to be used only once and many others can be re-used if cleaned appropriately | openFDA classification database; MedlinePlus (NIH/NLM) |
| External female catheter (wicking device) | Intended for non-invasive urine output management in female patients; designed to wick away voided urine to help keep skin dry | Attaches to hospital suction or a urine collection system rather than entering the urethra | BD PureWick product page |
Indwelling catheters
These are the balloon-retention catheters FDA classifies as product code EZL. For the full range of indwelling designs and what separates them, see our guide to the Foley catheter and the urinary catheter types and selection guide.
Intermittent catheters
MedlinePlus explains that catheters come in many types and sizes, that some come with gel already on them, and that hydrophilic catheters are soaked in sterile water to become self-lubricated. Our guide to the pre-lubricated catheter covers that product class, and the Robinson catheter page covers the straight design.
External female catheters
The manufacturer’s labeling for the PureWick Female External Catheter lists a contraindication: it should not be used on patients with urinary retention. It is offered as the catheter alone or in a kit with peri-care wipes and a duration label. The device does not enter the body, so it is the only one of the three families that avoids insertion.
How it works or is built
Indwelling and intermittent catheters are tubes that drain urine from the bladder; the indwelling type is held in place by a balloon. The external design instead wicks voided urine away from the skin and passes it to suction or a collection system, per the manufacturer.
How to choose
Product choice, size and use are clinical decisions that belong to the patient’s provider and the product’s instructions for use. MedlinePlus notes that a prescription specifies the catheter that is right for the patient.
Safe use and handling basics
- Follow the product’s instructions for use and the provider’s directions.
- Check the packaging to see whether a catheter is labeled single-use; MedlinePlus says some are meant to be used only once.
- For hospital infection-prevention practice around indwelling catheters, see the CAUTI prevention bundle.
Common mistakes
- Treating “female catheter” as one product. The indwelling, intermittent and external families differ in how they work.
- Overlooking the label. The PureWick manufacturer lists urinary retention as a contraindication.
- Reusing a single-use catheter. MedlinePlus says some catheters are meant to be used only once.
FAQ
What are the main types of female catheter?
Indwelling (balloon retention), intermittent (straight) and external wicking devices, as compared in the table above.
Does an external female catheter enter the urethra?
No. The manufacturer describes the PureWick as non-invasive and designed to wick away voided urine.
How are indwelling and straight catheters classified by FDA?
Both are class II devices under 21 CFR 876.5130: product code EZL for the balloon retention type and EZD for the straight type.
Are intermittent catheters reusable?
MedlinePlus says some catheters are meant to be used only once and many others can be re-used if cleaned appropriately. Follow the product label.
Where to find these products
Supply buyers can browse catheters, urology and incontinence supplies.
Sources
Checked 2026-10-30.
- BD, PureWick Female External Catheter product page: https://www.bd.com/en-us/products-and-solutions/products/product-families/purewick-female-external-catheter
- MedlinePlus (NIH/NLM), Clean intermittent catheterization – male: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000143.htm
- U.S. FDA, device classification database via openFDA (product codes EZL, EZD; 21 CFR 876.5130): https://api.fda.gov/device/classification.json?search=product_code:EZL
