You go to the bathroom, but your bladder still feels full. Or maybe you have trouble getting started or only pass a small amount of urine.
These can be signs of urinary retention. It happens when your bladder doesn’t empty all the way. Sometimes, you may not be able to urinate at all.
Urinary retention can happen suddenly or develop slowly over time. Knowing the symptoms, what can cause it, and how it’s treated can help you know when it’s time to see a urologist.
What Are the Two Types of Urinary Retention?
Acute urinary retention starts suddenly. You may feel like you need to urinate but can’t. This is a medical emergency that needs treatment right away.
Chronic urinary retention develops over time and can be harder to notice. You may still urinate several times a day but leave urine behind in your bladder each time.
What Are the Symptoms of Urinary Retention?
Symptoms of urinary retention can include:
- Trouble starting urination
- A weak or stop-and-start stream
- Frequent urination in small amounts
- Feeling like your bladder is still full
- Needing to go again soon after you finish
- Pressure or discomfort in your lower abdomen
- Dribbling or urine leakage
If you suddenly can’t urinate, seek medical care right away. Acute urinary retention is a medical emergency.
What Causes Urinary Retention?
Your bladder has to squeeze to push urine out. Urine also needs a clear path through the urethra, the tube that carries it out of your body.
Urinary retention can happen when something blocks that path, your bladder doesn’t squeeze well enough, or both.
Blockages
An enlarged prostate, also called BPH, is a common cause in men. As the prostate grows, it can press on the urethra and make it harder for urine to pass.
Other blockages include:
- Scar tissue in the urethra
- Bladder stones
- Blood clots
- Severe constipation
- Pelvic masses
- Swelling from prostatitis
Weak Bladder Muscles
Sometimes, the bladder muscle doesn’t squeeze strongly enough to empty. Possible causes include:
- Diabetes
- Conditions that affect the brain or nerves
- Nerve damage or injury
Medications
Some medications can make it harder to empty your bladder, including:
- Antihistamines
- Decongestants
- Anticholinergic medications
- Certain antidepressants
- Opioid pain medications
Urinary retention can also happen after surgery. Anesthesia and some pain medications can temporarily make it harder to urinate.
How Is Urinary Retention Diagnosed?
One of the main tests is a post-void residual, or PVR. It measures how much urine is left in your bladder after you urinate.
Your care team can use a bladder scanner or catheter to measure the urine that’s left behind.
Depending on the possible cause, you may also need blood tests, imaging, cystoscopy, or urodynamic testing. These tests can check your kidneys, look for a blockage, or show how well your bladder is working.
How Is Acute Urinary Retention Treated?
Treatment starts by draining your bladder.
A catheter, which is a thin tube, is passed through your urethra and into your bladder. This allows the trapped urine to drain and relieves pressure.
Your urologist can then find out what caused the retention and determine what treatment you may need next.
How Is Chronic Urinary Retention Treated?
Treatment depends on why your bladder isn’t emptying.
If an enlarged prostate is the cause, treatment may include medication, a minimally invasive procedure, or surgery. Other problems, such as a urethral stricture, may need different treatment.
If your bladder is too weak to empty on its own, your urologist may recommend intermittent catheterization.
Chronic urinary retention can become more serious when it:
- Affects your kidneys
- Causes repeated urinary tract infections
- Causes bothersome symptoms
- Leads to repeated episodes that require a catheter
Urine that stays in your bladder can raise your risk of infections and bladder stones. Over time, an overfilled bladder can also stretch and become weaker.
Get Help for Urinary Retention in Myrtle Beach, Conway and Murrells Inlet
If you’re having trouble urinating or never feel like your bladder is completely empty, don’t ignore it. Finding the cause can help you get the right treatment and prevent the problem from getting worse.
Atlantic Urology Clinics treats urinary retention in Myrtle Beach, Conway, Murrells Inlet and surrounding communities. Call 843.347.2450 to schedule an appointment.