Urinary retention is a condition that occurs when a person is unable to empty their bladder all the way or at all. This condition can greatly impact an individual’s quality of life by causing discomfort and pain. In today’s blog, we will discuss the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for urinary retention in order to provide you with a better understanding of this condition. 

What Is Urinary Retention?

Urinary retention prevents individuals from fully emptying their bladder. There are two types of urinary retention, acute and chronic. Acute urinary retention occurs suddenly and can be a severe emergency. Chronic urinary retention happens over a longer period of time, is usually less painful than acute urinary retention, and if left untreated, can lead to other health complications.  

Common Causes of Urinary Retention  

Blockages or Obstructions

  • Blockages such as an enlarged prostate in men, cystocele in women, and urinary stones can block the flow of urine, causing urinary retention.  

Certain Medications

  • Certain medications like antihistamines and antidepressants can impact how the bladder muscle functions.  

Infections

  • Infections such as Urinary Tract Infections and infections of the prostate can cause swelling and weakness of the bladder.  

Neurological Condition

  • Neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease can impact your nervous system's ability to send the correct messages from your brain to your bladder.  

Recognizing Symptoms of Urinary Retention  

Symptoms of Acute Urinary Retention:  

  • Inability to urinate 
  • Only able to urinate small amounts at a time 
  • Severe pain in lower abdomen  
  • The urgency to urinate, but can’t go  

Symptoms of Chronic Urinary Retention:

  • Inability to completely empty bladder when urinating  

  • The urgency to urinate, but can’t go 

  • Difficulty starting the flow of urination  

  • Leaking urine  

  • Symptoms can vary and some individuals experience little or no symptoms at all, making this form of urinary retention more difficult to detect.  

Treatment Options

Treatment options for urinary retention all depend on the type of urinary retention you have and what caused the urinary retention to occur. Catheters are commonly used in the treatment of acute urinary retention. For chronic urinary retention, usually, medication and procedures are done as treatment.  

We hope that this blog has given you a better understanding of urinary retention, its causes, symptoms, and treatment options. Living with urinary retention can be extremely impactful, but with treatment options available, you can live more comfortably and worry-free. At Piedmont Medical Solutions, we are here to help you with your urological needs. We understand the importance of reliable products and services to improve your quality of life. If you have any questions about our available products and services, please visit our website or give us a call, we are readily available to help!