Managing UTIs when living with MS and using a catheter

For people living with MS and bladder issues, managing bladder emptying is an important part of staying healthy. When the bladder doesn’t empty completely, residual urine creates the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. Even small amounts of urine left behind may increase the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs).^1,2,3 Repeated infections can make bladder management more difficult and may even cause MS symptoms to temporarily worsen.⁴

That’s why it is always important to completely empty your bladder when using a catheter. Ensuring that all urine is drained each time helps maintain bladder health and reduces the risk of infection.^1,2,3

There are two key things you may do to help enable complete bladder emptying when you catheterise.

1. Use a Luja catheter – which enables complete bladder emptying in one position to reduce the risk of UTIs.^1,5,6

2. Ensure you have the right emptying technique. If not using a Luja catheter, once you have inserted your catheter and the urine has stopped running, move a little and straighten yourself up to make sure that the bladder is completely empty. Slowly withdraw the catheter and stop each time more urine drains out.⁷ If using Luja, repositioning is not necessary as Luja enables complete bladder emptying in one position.^5,6

Unlike standard catheters with two eyelets, Luja features Micro-hole Zone Technology that enables complete bladder emptying in one position.^5,6 The whole Luja range is designed for no repositioning,^5,6 meaning that Luja catheters empty the bladder more efficiently in one free flow compared to conventional eyelet catheters.^5,6

Luja is designed with Micro-hole Zone Technology. These micro-holes are designed to drain urine from the bottom of the bladder and enable an uninterrupted and free urine flow.^5,6 

As you do not need to reposition the catheter whilst it is in your bladder, this enables a simpler emptying technique compared to conventional eyelet catheters.  When using a Luja catheter to empty your bladder, your flow of urine will only stop when the bladder is completely empty.^5,6