WHAT 172 CATHETER USERS TOLD US: NEW SURVEY REVEALS THE HIDDEN IMPACT OF LONG-TERM CATHETER USE
Bladder and urological conditions affect millions of people across the UK, yet the day-to-day reality of living with a catheter is rarely talked about openly. To mark Urology Awareness Month, we surveyed 172 UK-based male catheter users and carers to better understand patients’ lived experience of long-term catheter use, beyond the clinical picture.
The results confirm what many patients already know: managing a catheter affects far more than physical health.
Key findings
· 58% said their catheter affects their ability to travel or leave the house
· 49% said it affects relationships or intimacy
· 37% reported a negative impact on their mental health
· 38% said their catheter makes them feel anxious about going out
· Average self-reported quality of life was just 5 out of 10 since starting catheter use
· Respondents reported an average of 1.8 UTIs in the past year, and 41% described a high level of discomfort with their current device
We asked what single change would make the biggest difference. The most common answer, chosen by over one-third of respondents (34%), wasn't fewer infections or better clinical support. It was simply a more comfortable, more discreet product. This is exactly the gap cymactive™ was designed to address…keeping reading to find out more.
A gap between catheter types
The survey also pointed to a difference in experience depending on catheter type. Among people using a Foley (indwelling) catheter, 71% said they wished they had another option, compared with 48% of those using intermittent self-catheterisation (ISC). Across the whole group, 61% said they'd like to learn more about newer catheter technologies, despite receiving no product information as part of the survey.
Why this matters
These numbers put data behind something we hear often in conversations with patients and carers: that catheter management isn't just a medical routine, it's something that touches confidence, relationships and everyday freedom.
“For a lot of men, using a catheter isn’t just about managing a medical condition; it shapes their confidence, their relationships, whether they feel able to leave the house. Those are the kinds of things that don’t often get talked about, and we wanted to put some real numbers behind what people have told us.”
Where cymactive™ fits in
As a patient-controlled magnetic valve system, cymactive™ offers an alternative to traditional catheter options, giving users more control and discretion over their day-to-day routine. cymactive™ is CE Marked (Class IIb) and is listed on the NHS Supply Chain framework. Ingenion is continuing to build our evidence base, through surveys like this one, alongside clinical product evaluations, to understand what really matters to the people living with these conditions every day.
If you're a catheter user curious about whether cymactive™ could be an option for you, get in touch to find out more through our form below.
Survey methodology: online survey of 172 UK-based catheter users and carers, recruited via paid social media advertising with a prize draw incentive. Of patient respondents, 54% use a Foley/indwelling catheter, 37% use intermittent self-catheterisation (ISC) and 9% another method.