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What is Urinary Retention?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Urinary retention occurs when a person cannot urinate and needs to, or can only urinate a small amount but isn’t able to fully remove urine from the bladder. This condition may either be classed as chronic or acute, where in chronic conditions the person experiences this to smaller or lesser degree on a fairly constant basis. It has a variety of causes and treatment depends on cause. In a number of cases, urinary retention can be fully cured, but sometimes it can only be palliated through measures that have to be employed on a constant basis to empty the bladder.

The symptoms of urinary retention may be different depending upon whether the condition is acute or chronic. Acute retention is very serious and it means there is no way to urinate. A person simply can’t no matter how much they might try.

Urinary retention may occur as a result of an enlarged prostate.
Urinary retention may occur as a result of an enlarged prostate.

This form of the condition is considered extremely serious and medically urgent because continued filling of the bladder can lead to permanent damage. It may occur as a result of some damage to the bladder or structures that surround it, and sometimes that damage is temporary. For instance, a pregnant woman that has an epidural during labor frequently experiences acute retention; to address this, she might have a urine catheter to remove the urine and prevent bladder injury.

Bladder stones may cause urinary retention.
Bladder stones may cause urinary retention.

In most cases, standard treatment for acute retention is to first use a urine catheter to empty the bladder. Depending on underlying causes, this could be the only treatment, or additional treatments might be required. If damage to the bladder or the ability to urinate is impaired for a long period of time, regular catheterization could be necessary.

Urinary retention may occur as a result of taking certain medications.
Urinary retention may occur as a result of taking certain medications.

Employing a cath for chronic urinary retention isn’t always needed. In this condition, risk of bladder damage over time can exist too, but people are able to excrete some urine. Very frequently, underlying condition for chronic forms is enlargement of the prostate gland; this is the most common cause and is exclusive to men. Treatment might turn to shrinking the prostate gland when this is the case.

A pregnant woman may experience urinary retention after an epidural.
A pregnant woman may experience urinary retention after an epidural.

Other causes of chronic urinary retention include urinary tract infection, weakness in the bladder and vagina or pelvic floor, problems with the urethra that cause it to narrow, blockage of the urethra with bladder stones, and certain medications. It’s easy to see how different treatment might be depending on cause. A urinary tract infection could necessitate giving antibiotics, bladder stones might need to be dissolved with medication or surgically removed, and some medications like antihistamines or those used for urinary incontinence could need to be discontinued.

Urinary catheters are often used when a person has problems urinating on his/her own.
Urinary catheters are often used when a person has problems urinating on his/her own.

More invasive measures could be needed if the pelvic floor weakens enough to allow the bladder to push into the vagina, and surgery to repair the muscles is not uncommon. Some men have urethral stricture, which results in a much narrower pathway for passing urine. Balloon catheter might open this stricture or surgical measures could be required to create a better opening.

A catheter is the most effective treatment for relief of urinary retention symptoms.
A catheter is the most effective treatment for relief of urinary retention symptoms.

Sometimes damage to the nerves is so significant that people require regular urinary catheterization. Training on how to properly perform this under clean or sterile conditions is extremely valuable to prevent infection. Regular caths have the tendency to cause much higher risk of infection in the urinary tract, which might lead to an acute case of urinary retention.

Urinary retention may be caused by a urinary tract infection, which can be treated with antibiotics.
Urinary retention may be caused by a urinary tract infection, which can be treated with antibiotics.

It should also be noted that even if chronic urinary retention is less immediately urgent than acute forms, it still requires medical treatment. Inability to go some of the time or empty the bladder fully runs risk of constant infection and great damage to the bladder that could make the problem irreparable. Should this condition arise, it should be brought to the attention of a doctor right away, so cause can be diagnosed and treatment can begin.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent TheHealthBoard contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent TheHealthBoard contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

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    • Urinary retention may occur as a result of an enlarged prostate.
      By: peterjunaidy
      Urinary retention may occur as a result of an enlarged prostate.
    • Bladder stones may cause urinary retention.
      By: ivan kmit
      Bladder stones may cause urinary retention.
    • Urinary retention may occur as a result of taking certain medications.
      By: bahrialtay
      Urinary retention may occur as a result of taking certain medications.
    • A pregnant woman may experience urinary retention after an epidural.
      By: artush
      A pregnant woman may experience urinary retention after an epidural.
    • Urinary catheters are often used when a person has problems urinating on his/her own.
      By: Dario Lo Presti
      Urinary catheters are often used when a person has problems urinating on his/her own.
    • A catheter is the most effective treatment for relief of urinary retention symptoms.
      By: sudok1
      A catheter is the most effective treatment for relief of urinary retention symptoms.
    • Urinary retention may be caused by a urinary tract infection, which can be treated with antibiotics.
      By: Syda Productions
      Urinary retention may be caused by a urinary tract infection, which can be treated with antibiotics.