When using intermittent catheters, comfort and bladder health are the top priorities. One important factor that helps make catheterization more comfortable is something called osmolality — a scientific word that plays a big role in how smoothly a catheter works. Osmolality, by definition, is a measurement of the concentration of dissolved particles (salts and other substances) in a fluid. Urine has its own natural osmolality, and so do the lubricants or coatings on each catheter. Matching the osmolality of your catheter’s coating to that of your urine’s pH can help make catheterization smoother and more comfortable, while also reducing friction.