Last updated: May 18, 2026
Clean Intermittent catheterization (CIC) is the urologic procedure which rarely practice in Cambodia but it is very common in western countries. CIC is used when urinary bladder function is impaired. By the way, let’s discuss about urinary bladder’s role first.
Urinary bladder is an organ that has a major role on the emptying urine out of the body. But the process of aging or any kind of risk factors that elevated the degenerative of bladder developed faster, as result the normal function of the squeezing will remains incomplete and perhaps it could leads to the condition called residual-urine volume – or we can call it the retaining of the urines in the bladder. The urines that retained in the bladder for long time will caused grotty and additionally, it becomes the place that most bacteria will take as their shelter to live and hide. Patients who suffered from this condition they’ll always paid me a visit along with their urinary tract infection and complained about the insufficient antibiotic treatment even medicine prescribed the right one for them. the best solution that can help the “Underactive” bladder emptying urine is “Clean Intermittent Catheterization” or CIC.
Today I will disclose all informations about clean intermittent catheterization – rational, safety, full instructions for self-doing at home whether doing by yourself or has someone doing this procedure for yours.
First of all, we must clarify and make the understanding about urethral clean intermittent catheterization technique. This technique was always performing in sterilization technique with a medical professional setting. The sterile urethral catheterization required well-trained and it cost very highly for medical supplies, because all items are disposable (one-time using). Unlucky, this kind of degenerative bladder issue needs to do intermittent catheterization at least once daily so that’s why CIC was required “Cleanness” but we don’t need some kind of sterilization levels, so that, it take much more easier for general people to perform this procedure by their own freely. Otherwise, it cost us more cheaper in term of medical expenses. One more thing that we’re worried about is the infection while performing the procedure, but after reviews the latest literature it made us so breathable, it means the infection has been rated very tiny if we compared between “Sterilization” and “Cleanness” technique.
The instruction for the Clean Intermittent Catheterization (CIC)
- Urinate as a regular habit for one time.
- Wash your hands with liquid soap and water.
- Wash your genital area with over-the-counter antiseptic soap.
- Remove the catheter from its container carefully, and keep it clean.
- Required a water-based KY jelly, and apply it at the tip of catheter as much as you need.
- Lie yourself on the toilet and prepare container for draining urines.
- Gently pass the lubricated catheter into the urethra.
- Slowly pass catheter until urine void (meaning the tip of the catheter is in the bladder).
- Pass the catheter a little bit more so the tip of the catheter will perfectly at the point inside the bladder.
- Hold the catheter and let urine void until done.
- Slowly remove the catheter and put it back to the container that has an antiseptic solutions
- Wash your genital area again.
- The antiseptic solution in the Clean intermittent catheterization container must daily changes to make the catheter clean as much as possible.
- The Clean intermittent catheterization sets has lifetime for 3 weeks and it needs to change, or it can rising the risk of infection. And expired CIC rubber will harm the urethra
Any questions, you can feel free to discuss with me. Stay safe for the Clean intermittent catheterization procedure!
If you have an underactive bladder, incomplete emptying, or recurrent urinary tract infections and would like specialist evaluation and CIC training, Dr. Soarawee Weerasopone offers specialist consultations at Bangkok Hospital Headquarters. Book a Consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions about Clean Intermittent Catheterization
Clean Intermittent Catheterization (CIC) is a procedure where a thin, flexible tube called a catheter is inserted through the urethra into the bladder to drain urine at regular intervals. It is used when the bladder cannot empty fully on its own due to nerve damage, muscle weakness, or other conditions causing urinary retention.
CIC is recommended for patients with an underactive or neurogenic bladder who cannot empty their bladder completely. Common causes include spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, diabetic neuropathy, bladder outlet obstruction, and post-surgical urinary retention. Chronic incomplete bladder emptying often leads to recurrent urinary tract infections, making CIC an essential management strategy.
Yes. CIC is safe to perform at home by patients or caregivers after proper training. Unlike sterile catheterization performed in hospitals, CIC requires cleanliness rather than full sterility. Evidence from medical literature confirms that infection rates with the clean technique are comparable to the sterile technique, making it a practical and cost-effective option for long-term home use.
The frequency of CIC depends on the degree of bladder dysfunction and your urologist’s recommendation. Most patients perform CIC at least once daily, while others may need it every 4–6 hours. The goal is to prevent the bladder from becoming overfull and to reduce the risk of urinary tract infections caused by retained urine.
A CIC catheter set can typically be reused for up to 3 weeks when properly cleaned and stored in antiseptic solution, which must be changed daily. After 3 weeks, the catheter should be replaced to minimize infection risk and prevent the degraded rubber from causing urethral irritation or injury.
Disclaimer: This content is written and reviewed by Dr. Soarawee Weerasopone, a board-certified urologist at Bangkok Hospital Headquarters. It is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any medical treatment.
Medically written & reviewed by: Dr. Soarawee Weerasopone (Dr. Pom) — Board-Certified Urologist, Bangkok Hospital Headquarters. International Fellow: Baylor College of Medicine (USA) · Juntendo University (Japan) · Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (Taiwan).
Dr. Soarawee Weerasopone (Dr. Pom) is a board-certified urologist at Bangkok Hospital Headquarters, specializing in Men’s Health, Robotic Surgery (Da Vinci System), and Kidney Stone treatment. He has completed international fellowships at Baylor College of Medicine (USA), Juntendo University Hospital (Japan), and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (Taiwan). All medical content on this site is written and reviewed by Dr. Soarawee based on his clinical experience and international training.
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