An Innovative Catheter
Lubricant: Silicone Oil

Published 2019/10/14

Effective lubrication is essential in preventing urethral trauma and pain, which are one of the biggest concerns for people who self-catheterize. In the hope of preventing pain associated with urinary catheter, this article will introduce silicone oil as an innovative catheter lubricant—comparing it to the two other popular catheter lubricants: K-Y jelly and hydrophilic coating—to keep you informed on your options, so you can choose the most effective lubricant for yourself.

First, why is effective
lubrication so important?

Intermittent catheter users need to catheterize 5-6 times a day on average, which involves inserting a foreign object into the bladder through the urethra. The urethra is a thin tube that acts as a pathway for urine to exit the body from the bladder, and it is easily irritated or injured by friction or force.

Catheters that have not been sufficiently lubricated can create little tears along the urethra, causing urethral pain, a burning sensation during urination, and even bloody urine.

In some cases, if the catheter is not lubricated enough and the person forces the catheter in, the catheter can create a false passage—penetrating out of the urethra wall and creating a new path. Therefore, it is important to apply sufficient lubrication and neverforce a catheter in.

If you feel burning and pain after catheter removal or during insertion, consider if your catheter has been properly lubricated.

Repeated occurrences of urethral trauma can lead to urethral strictures (narrowing of the urethra as a result of inflammation or urethral scarring), which can make catheterization difficult and leads to further injuries. Therefore, having proper lubrication is paramount in ensuring the safety and comfort of catheterization.

Why silicone oil?

UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) is a common complication of urinary catheterization and is caused by a bacterial, viral or fungal infection of the urinary tract system. Catheter-associated UTI occurs when one accidentally introduce an infectious agent from their hands, clothes, skin, or urethra opening onto the catheter. Then, the contaminated catheter is inserted into the urethra and bladder, causing a lower urinary tract infection.

If untreated, the infection can travel up to the kidneys, causing a dangerous and potentially deadly kidney infection.

Silicone oil has been found to have antimicrobial properties by multiple studies (studies 1, 2, 3). Antimicrobial means the ability to inhibit or destroy the growth of microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

The nontoxicity of silicone oil has also made it safe to be applied to medical equipment.

When a catheter is encased in silicone oil by the manufacturer, the catheter is pre-lubricated, which means when you take the catheter out of the package, it is ready for direct insertion. The silicone oil stays on the catheter. It does not drip and is mess-free.

Other than silicone oil, the two other popular catheter lubricants are K-Y jelly and hydrophilic coatings. They are both effective lubricants. However, K-Y jelly may gather at the urethral opening as one inserts the catheter, which some users find undesirable. The hydrophilic-coated catheters have to be soaked in water before use, and residual water often drips onto the user’s clothes.

More importantly, neither have anti-microbial properties like silicone oil.

If you want to try silicone-oil-coated catheters
for free, request samples today!

CompactCath’s silicone-oil-coated catheter comes ready to insert, so you can skip the extra step of applying K-Y jelly, and avoid the dripping mess that hydrophilic catheters can make.

On top of it all, silicone oil is antimicrobial, nontoxic, and already used to treat medical and surgical equipment.

CompactCath is the only catheter company on the market that uses silicone oil as a lubricant. CompactCath also provides super-compact catheters that fit discreetly into your back pocket, purse, and carry-on luggage. Light and drip-free, whether you’re going into the office or on a trip to Europe, CompactCath fulfills your desire for privacy and adventure like no other.

Try out CompactCath and CompactCath Lite, both of which come pre-lubricated with silicone oil. We carry both straight and coude tip, as well as sizes 12fr-16fr.