The Food and Drug Administration has approved Botox for the treatment of urinary incontinence in people with conditions such as spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis. Botox is actually injected into the bladder tissue resulting in relaxation of the bladder, thus increasing the storage capacity and decreasing incontinence. Doctors perform the procedure using cystoscopy which may require general anesthesia. Current management techniques of neurogenic bladder include medications to relax the bladder and intermittent catheterization.

The duration of effect is about nine months. The most common adverse effects from the procedure were urinary retention and urinary tract infection. Your doctor will have the latest information on this bladder management technique.

Often someone will call in and ask why it is necessary to maintain a schedule for intermittent catheterization. The short answer is that it helps to protect the kidneys and to minimize the chance of getting a urinary tract infection. Our kidneys have the capacity to hold about 500 ml of urine; that’s roughly equal to about 2 (two) eight ounce glasses of liquid. Assume that we drink about 8 to 10 glasses (8oz each) of water each day.
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Today’s male external catheters are helping men enjoy a better quality of life. Improved materials, adhesives, and catheter designs (short, long, oversized, undersized, etc.) have lead to more comfortable and reliable use. This has also lead to the introduction of extensive product lines of both male external catheters and accessories.

There are a number of key factors to consider when choosing which catheter is right for you:
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Catheter size is measured in a unit called a “French” (commonly referred to as Fr for short).

This measurement is taken on the outside diameter of the catheter.

When ordering catheters, you will often be asked for the size in these units; common sizes include 16 Fr, 18 Fr, 20 Fr and others.

1 Fr = 0.33 mm (about the thickness of a human hair)