Catheteriation when having monthly periods

[CathA131]

Good morning,

I currently have to use ISC approximately every 3 hours per day as I am unable to go to the toilet "normally" and have no other way of emptying my bladder . I am 47 years old and I am still having periods every month (sometimes twice a month). What is concerning me is that my period blood is entering my urethra when I catheterize despite me trying to clean away the blood before I catheterize. Could this be problematic if blood gets into the urethra please?

[Mr Chris Harding]

I don't think it is a risk for anything other than urinary infection and how much this increases risk over and above catheterisation is not known. Blood is a very good culture medium for bacteria so theoretically can increase UTI risk.