What is this?
Urinary retention is a condition where you cannot completely empty your bladder. It is not a disease but can be associated with other health issues, such as prostate problems in men or a cystocele in women. Urinary retention can be acute, meaning a sudden inability to urinate, or chronic, indicating a gradual difficulty in emptying the bladder.
Acute urinary
retention occurs suddenly and lasts for a short duration. Individuals with this
condition are unable to urinate despite having a full bladder.
This condition can
cause severe pain and may be life-threatening. If you suddenly find yourself
unable to urinate, it is crucial to seek emergency medical treatment
immediately.
Chronic urinary
retention develops gradually over time. Individuals with this condition can
urinate but cannot completely empty their bladders. Many people with chronic
urinary retention may be unaware of the condition, as they often do not
experience noticeable symptoms.
Acute urinary
retention is common among older men, with its likelihood increasing with age.
Over a five-year period, approximately 1 in 10 men over the age of 70 and
nearly 1 in 3 men in their 80s will experience acute urinary retention.
In contrast, acute
urinary retention is much less common in women, with about 3 in 100,000 women
developing the condition each year. It is also rare in children.
The prevalence of
chronic urinary retention is not well-documented. However, it is known to
affect older men more frequently than any other group.
Symptoms of acute
urinary retention may include:
●
Inability
to urinate
●
Severe
pain in the lower abdomen
●
Urgent
need to urinate
●
Swelling
in the lower abdomen
Chronic urinary
retention develops gradually and may cause few or no symptoms, making it
difficult to detect. If symptoms do occur, they may include:
●
Inability
to completely empty the bladder when urinating
●
Frequent
urination in small amounts
●
Difficulty
starting the flow of urine (hesitancy)
●
Slow
urine stream
●
Urgent
need to urinate with little success
●
Feeling
the need to urinate again shortly after finishing
●
Unintentional
urine leakage without warning or urge
●
Lower
abdominal pain or discomfort
Causes:
For normal urination,
all parts of the urinary tract must function correctly in sequence. Urine flows
from the kidneys through the ureters to the bladder and exits via the urethra.
If a blockage or narrowing occurs along this pathway, it can cause difficulty
urinating or, in severe cases, the inability to urinate.
Medical issues that may narrow the urethra and obstruct urine
flow include:
●
Enlarged
prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia)
●
Bladder
outlet obstruction (e.g., urethral stricture or scar tissue in the bladder
neck)
●
Pelvic
organ prolapse (e.g., cystocele and rectocele)
●
Urinary
tract stones (calculi)
●
Constipation
●
Pelvic
masses (e.g., tumors, fibroids, polyps, or clots)
●
Tight
pelvic floor muscles
●
Infections
(e.g., urinary tract infection, sexually transmitted diseases, prostatitis)
●
Trauma
to the pelvis, urethra, or penis
Urinary retention can
occur when bladder muscles cannot contract strongly or long enough to empty the
bladder completely, known as an underactive bladder.
Causes of underactive bladder include:
Neurological Problems:
●
Parkinson’s
disease
●
Multiple
sclerosis
●
Alzheimer’s
disease
●
Stroke
●
Birth
defects (e.g., spina bifida)
●
Diabetes
●
Spinal
cord injury
●
Traumatic
brain injury
●
Pelvic
injury
●
Vaginal
birth
●
Guillain-Barré
syndrome
●
Fowler’s
syndrome
●
Heavy
metal poisoning
Medications: Certain medications can interfere with nerve signals to the bladder,
urethra, or prostate, causing urinary retention. Examples include:
●
Alpha-adrenergic
agonists
●
Anticholinergics
and antispasmodics
●
Antidepressants
●
Antihistamines
and decongestants
●
Antiparkinsonian
medications
●
Antipsychotics
●
Benzodiazepines
●
Calcium
channel blockers
●
Nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., aspirin, ibuprofen)
●
Opioids
●
Serotonin
and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors
Surgery:
Temporary urinary retention is common after surgery. Intravenous (IV) fluids
can lead to a full bladder, and anesthesia can prevent the sensation of needing
to urinate. Pelvic surgery can cause swelling, scar tissue, and trauma,
obstructing urine flow.
Weak Bladder Muscles: Bladder muscles may weaken and fail to contract with
sufficient strength to empty the bladder completely. Causes include:
●
Age-related
muscle weakness
●
Overdistention
(a bladder stretched to the point of muscle damage)
●
Pregnancy
and childbirth
●
Trauma
Treatment:
For acute urinary
retention, a healthcare professional will immediately use a catheter to drain
the urine from your bladder, relieving pain and preventing damage to the
bladder and kidneys.
For chronic urinary
retention, the underlying cause is treated first. If retention persists or
becomes severe, a catheter may be used to drain the bladder.
Some individuals may
need to use a catheter long-term until the condition is resolved. The catheter
can be indwelling (left in the bladder) or intermittent (inserted and removed
as needed). Healthcare professionals can teach patients how to use an
intermittent catheter.
●
5-alpha reductase inhibitors: Shrink the prostate to improve urine
flow (e.g., dutasteride, finasteride).
●
Alpha-blockers: Relax muscles in the bladder neck and prostate to ease
urination (e.g., alfuzosin, doxazosin, prazosin, silodosin, tadalafil,
tamsulosin, terazosin).
●
Combination therapy: Using both 5-alpha reductase inhibitors
and alpha-blockers for better results.
●
Antibiotics: Treat infections causing urinary retention (e.g., UTIs,
prostatitis).
●
Adjusting medications: If certain medicines cause retention,
doses may be reduced or the medicine discontinued.
●
Cystoscopy: Uses a cystoscope to remove blockages like stones.
●
Laser therapy: Uses light to reduce prostate obstruction.
●
Prostatic urethral lift (UroLift): Implants lift the prostate away from
the urethra.
●
Transurethral electrovaporization: Uses heat to vaporize enlarged prostate
tissue.
●
Transurethral water vapor therapy (Rezum): Uses steam to shrink the prostate.
●
Urethral dilation: Stretches the urethral opening to treat
strictures.
●
Vaginal pessary: A ring inserted into the vagina to support bladder or
rectal prolapse.
●
Prostate reduction: Removes part of the prostate.
●
Urethral and bladder neck repair: Fixes strictures or scar tissue.
●
Pelvic organ prolapse repair: Corrects organ prolapse.
●
Tumor or abnormal uterus removal: Removes obstructions.
●
Bladder repair: Fixes abnormal bladder.
●
Urinary diversion: Reroutes urine flow out of the body.
How to avoid it?
Regular Check-ups:
●
Schedule
regular medical check-ups, especially if you are at risk for conditions like an
enlarged prostate.
Monitor Urinary Habits:
●
Pay attention
to changes in your urinary habits and seek medical advice if you notice
difficulties.
Stay Hydrated:
●
Drink
plenty of water to help maintain a healthy urinary system.
Healthy Diet:
●
Maintain
a balanced diet rich in fiber to prevent constipation, which can contribute to
urinary retention.
Pelvic Floor Exercises:
●
Practice
exercises like Kegels to strengthen pelvic muscles.
Manage Chronic Conditions:
●
Effectively
manage chronic conditions like diabetes and neurological disorders to reduce
the risk of urinary retention.
Medications:
●
Review
your medications with your healthcare provider to identify any that may cause
urinary retention and discuss alternatives if necessary.
Avoid Bladder Irritants:
●
Limit
intake of caffeine, alcohol, and spicy foods that can irritate the bladder.
Timed Voiding:
●
Practice
timed voiding (urinating at regular intervals) to help retrain your bladder.
Healthy Lifestyle:
●
Maintain
a healthy weight, avoid smoking, and engage in regular physical activity to
support overall bladder health.
Prompt Medical Attention:
●
Seek
prompt medical attention for urinary tract infections or any symptoms of
urinary retention to prevent complications.