What does urinary retention indicate?

The symptoms of urinary retention can range from severe abdominal pain and the inability to urinate, to few or no symptoms at all. Urinary retention results from either a blockage that partially or fully prevents the flow of urine, or your bladder not being able to maintain a strong enough force to expel all the urine.

Which conditions have urinary retention as a symptom?

What causes urinary retention?

  • enlarged prostate, or benign prostatic hyperplasia.
  • bladder outlet obstruction, such as urethral stricture or scar tissue in the bladder neck.
  • pelvic organ prolapse, including cystocele and rectocele.
  • urinary tract stones, also called calculi.
  • constipation.

What problems can urinary retention cause?

Your kidneys can become so full of urine that they swell and press on nearby organs. This pressure can damage your kidneys and in some cases may lead to chronic kidney disease and kidney failure. Urinary incontinence.

What is the most common cause of urinary retention?

The most common cause of urinary retention is benign prostatic hyperplasia. Other common causes include prostatitis, cystitis, urethritis, and vulvovaginitis; receiving medications in the anticholinergic and alpha-adrenergic agonist classes; and cortical, spinal, or peripheral nerve lesions.

When is urinary retention an emergency?

Acute urinary retention symptoms require immediate medical attention: Inability to urinate. Painful, urgent need to urinate. Severe pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen.

Who is at risk for urinary retention?

Those at the greatest risk of suffering from urinary retention include: Men more than women. Young, sexually active men. People over the age of 50.

What does a urologist do for urinary retention?

The most common surgery is transurethral resection of the prostate. In this procedure, the urologist uses a tiny tool, inserted through a catheter, to remove a section of the prostate. This treatment is used frequently for urinary retention caused by BPH. Internal urethrotomy.

What medications cause urinary retention?

Urinary retention can also be caused by certain medications. Drugs like antihistamines (Benadryl®), antispasmodics (like Detrol®), opiates (like Vicodin®) and tricyclic antidepressants (like Elavil®) can change the way the bladder muscle works.

Can urinary retention go away on its own?

“Unfortunately, urinary incontinence isn’t likely to go away on its own. The good news, however, is that there are things that you can do on your own to improve it, and there are plenty of options for treating it,” adds Dr. Lindo.

Is urinary retention an emergency?

People with acute urinary retention cannot urinate at all, even though they have a full bladder. Acute urinary retention, a potentially life-threatening medical condition, requires immediate emergency treatment. Acute urinary retention can cause great discomfort or pain.