The three main and most common types of catheters are:
Indwelling catheters (urethral or suprapubic catheters). Also called urethral or suprapubic, these are placed within the bladder. These are usually placed by a nurse or healthcare provider. These can be either short-term or long-term solutions.
External catheters (condom catheters). Also called a condom catheter, external options are placed outside the body and are used on men only. These can be placed easily at home or by a healthcare provider. These are usually a short-term option but can be used for a longer period with a new catheter each time because they are external.
Short-term catheters (intermittent catheters). This is a type of catheter supply is intended to be used for shorter term uses. It can be inserted by a nurse or at home, typically following surgery for someone without urinary issues prior to surgery.