Abstract: A guidewire or other guide element has an elastically deformable distal end portion that is formed to have an unstrained shape or other features selected to allow the guide element to be safely retained inside a female's urinary bladder after placement therein via a tubular catheter by a doctor. The proximal end of the guide element extends out of her urethra to be easily accessible to her. When she needs to urinate, she passes the proximal end of the guide element into the distal end of another tubular catheter by herself and guides the catheter along the guide element into her bladder to pass out urine through the catheter. When her condition has improved, she or her doctor can withdraw the guide element via a similar catheter.