Urinary Retention

Urinary retention is when your bladder does not empty. It might be that your bladder does not empty all the way. Orit might not empty at all. The condition comes in two major forms, acute and chronic. It is most common in men between the ages of 60 and 80.

Acute vs Chronic Urinary Retention

Acute urinary retention happens suddenly and is serious. You might feel some pain or discomfort. Consider it an emergency and dial 911 or head to the nearest emergency room.

Chronic urinary retention develops over time. There may be no symptoms. This type is usually painless. While it is not an emergency, reach out to your urologist for care and support. Chronic conditions like this can cause health issues if not treated.

Symptoms

The symptoms are different for acute and chronic types.

Acute symptoms:

• You are unable to urinate.
• You feel a lot of pain or discomfort in your stomach.
• You feel an urgent need to pee.

Chronic symptoms:

• You have trouble starting to pee.
• You start and stop urinating.
• Your urine stream is weak.
• Your bladder does not feel empty.
• You pee more often.
• You wake up at night to pee.
• You sometimes leak urine.
• You feel some discomfort in your lower belly.

Causes

There are four main causes of this condition. The most common cause is blockage from an enlarged prostate.

Urinary retention causes:

• Blockage. This is usually from an enlarged prostate. It can also be related to conditions such as bladder stones or urine infection. In women, it might be a pelvic organ prolapse.
• Nerve issues. Sometimes the link between your brain and bladder gets interrupted. This can be because of a stroke or diabetes. Other conditions might also cause nerve problems.
• Medicine. Certain medications can cause the condition. Examples include some allergy and cold medicines. Some muscle relaxers and antidepressants can also be a factor.
• Weakened bladder. If your bladder is not strong enough to fully contract, you may not empty your entire bladder when you pee. Other causes might be a general infection. It could also be swelling. Some people have the condition for a little while after surgery.

Risk Factors

There are a few risk factors for the condition.

Common risk factors:

• Being male
• Older age
• Diabetes
• Nerve issues
• Certain medications
• Recent surgery
• Childbirth
• Anesthesia
• Catheter use

Diagnosis

To diagnose the condition, your urologist will examine you. They will also review your health history and symptoms. A physical exam might include a lower belly check, rectal exam and nerve check. For women, a urologist might perform a pelvic check.

Other possible tests include:

• Postvoid residual test. This test checks how much urine is left after you pee. It involves a bladder ultrasound or a catheter.
• Urine test. The results can tell your urologist if there are related health problems.
• Blood work. Your urologist will look at the test results to see if they point to any problems.
• Cystoscopy. A urologist uses a thin, bendable tool with a camera to look for blockages.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the specific cause and type of condition. Your urologist might order medicine or provide a catheter to use at home. In some cases, perform surgery. For acute conditions, they will likely empty your bladder with a catheter right away.

Treatment options:

• Medicine. Some medication shrinks your prostate. Antibiotics help with infections. Alpha blockers relax your bladder and prostate so that it is easier to urinate.
• Catheter. This is often short-term or occasional treatment. Your urologist might give you a catheter to use at home.
• Surgery. Your urologist might perform surgery to remove blockages, treat stones or repair a prolapse.

A urologist might also help you manage any root causes such as constipation. If you can’t urinate or have a lot of pain in your lower belly, get medical care right away. For less intense symptoms, reach out to your Baptist Health urologist.

Prevention

You might not be able to prevent every case of the condition. Yet, there are things you can do to lower your risk.

Prevention steps:

• Treat any infection right away.
• Treat an enlarged prostate.
• Manage any health problems that affect the bladder.
• Do not hold your urine when you need to pee.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Eat enough fiber.