Photo: Life Matters

What are signs of urinary retention?

Chronic urinary retention the inability to completely empty your bladder when urinating. frequent urination in small amounts. difficulty starting the flow of urine, called hesitancy. a slow urine stream. the urgent need to urinate, but with little success. feeling the need to urinate after finishing urination. More items...

niddk.nih.gov - Symptoms & Causes of Urinary Retention | NIDDK

What does hot water and cinnamon do?

"Adding cinnamon to your water is not only hydrating and delicious, it can also supply an array of health benefits, such as: delivering...

Last updated Jun 11, 2021

How do I burn fat at night while sleeping?

6 Ways to Lose Weight While You Sleep Lift weights at night. ... Drink a casein protein shake. ... Take a cold shower. ... Drink green tea. ......

Last updated Nov 20, 2020

Promotion

What are the symptoms of urinary retention?

Acute urinary retention

Symptoms of acute urinary retention may include

the inability to urinate

pain—often severe—in your lower abdomen

the urgent need to urinate

swelling of your lower abdomen

Chronic urinary retention

Chronic urinary retention develops over time and may cause few or no symptoms, which may make it hard to detect. If your chronic urinary retention causes symptoms, they may include

the inability to completely empty your bladder when urinating

frequent urination in small amounts

difficulty starting the flow of urine, called hesitancy

a slow urine stream

the urgent need to urinate, but with little success

feeling the need to urinate after finishing urination

leaking urine without any warning or urge

lower abdominal pain or discomfort

When should I see a health care professional?

See a health care professional right away if you are unable to urinate or have severe pain in your abdomen. Acute urinary retention can be life threatening. If you have any of the other symptoms of urinary retention, such as trouble urinating, frequent urination, or leaking urine, talk with your health care professional about your symptoms and possible treatments. Chronic urinary retention can cause serious health problems. It’s important to see a health care professional if you have symptoms of urinary retention.

What causes urinary retention?

The causes of urinary retention are related to either a blockage that partially or fully prevents urine from leaving your bladder or urethra, or your bladder not being able to maintain a strong enough force to expel all the urine.

Blockage or narrowing in the urethra or bladder neck

For you to be able to urinate normally, all parts of your urinary tract need to work together in the correct order. Urine normally flows from your kidneys, through the ureters to your bladder, and out the urethra. If a blockage or narrowing occurs somewhere along the urinary tract, you may have difficulty urinating, and if the blockage is severe, you may not be able to urinate at all.

Medical problems that may narrow the urethra and block urine flow include

Inefficient bladder contraction (underactive bladder)

You may develop urinary retention when your bladder muscles aren’t able to contract with enough strength or do not contract long enough to empty your bladder completely—also called underactive bladder. Causes of underactive bladder include Neurological problems. Urinary retention can occur when there is a problem with your nervous system that prevents messages from travelling from your brain to your bladder and urethra. There are many different causes of neurological problems, including Medicines. Urinary retention can be caused by certain medicines that interfere with nerve signals to your bladder, urethra, or prostate. Examples of these medicines include

alpha-adrenergic agonists

anticholinergics and antispasmodics

antidepressants

antihistamines and decongestants

antiparkinsonian medications

antipsychotics

benzodiazepines

calcium channel blockers

nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen

opioids

serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors

Surgery. It is common to develop temporary urinary retention right after surgery. During surgery, you are often given intravenous (IV) fluid, which may lead to a full bladder. You are also given anesthesia, which can prevent you from feeling the need to urinate despite having a full bladder. In addition, pelvic surgery can cause swelling, scar tissue, and trauma that can partially or fully block the flow of urine out of your bladder or urethra. Weak bladder muscles. Bladder muscles that are weak may not contract with enough strength or force to empty the bladder completely. Causes of weakness can include

What happens if you drink water before bed?

Drinking water before bed can increase the amount of times you need to urinate at night. Your urine output decreases at night, allowing you to...

Last updated Jun 14, 2021

Can you get a false high blood pressure reading?

Acute meal ingestion, caffeine or nicotine use can all negatively affect BP readings, leading to errors in measurement accuracy. If the patient has...

Last updated Dec 27, 2018

Promotion

Can guys pee and poop at the same time?

When you do pass stool however, the relaxation of the stronger anal sphincter also decreases tension in the weaker urinary sphincter, allowing urine to pass at the same time. But this isn't always the case – it is possible, but difficult, to do one without doing the other.

sciencefocus.com - Why can you pee without pooing, but you can't poo without peeing?

The passage of our bodily waste is controlled by circular muscles called sphincters. The external sphincters are under our control. The sphincter around the urethra is smaller than the one around the anus, so when you decide to urinate you can relax it without relaxing the whole pelvic floor. This means you can pass urine without needing to pass stool at the same time. When you do pass stool however, the relaxation of the stronger anal sphincter also decreases tension in the weaker urinary sphincter, allowing urine to pass at the same time. But this isn’t always the case – it is possible, but difficult, to do one without doing the other.

Asked by: Kate Selby, Dundee

To submit your questions email us at questions@sciencefocus.com (don't forget to include your name and location)

Which is better WebMD or Healthline?

At the end of the day, the reason Healthline overtook WebMD is manifold: a mix of better user intent understanding, user experience, and content...

Last updated Apr 16, 2019

Will my prostatitis ever go away?

Prostatitis can't always be cured, but its symptoms can be managed. Treatment should be followed even if you feel better. Patients with prostatitis...

Last updated Dec 31, 2018

Promotion

Why is it so hard for men to go to therapy?

Seeking help may be viewed as a “weakness,” leading men to be hesitant about seeking psychiatric help. Difficulty expressing emotions. Men may...

Last updated Jan 6, 2021

Promotion

How can a man boost his testosterone fast?

Starke offers the following tips: Improve your diet. Adopting and maintaining a healthy diet benefits your testosterone levels in two primary ways:...

Last updated Oct 14, 2020