Urinary Retention

About the Symptom

Feeling like you have not emptied your bladder after urinating. This can be due to blockage of the urethra, the tube that empties the bladder, or a weak bladder.

When to See a Doctor

Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms

• Feeling of urine remaining in my bladder

Possible Causes

Generally, Urinary retention can be related to:

• Interstitial Cystitis

  Inflammation of the bladder's muscle layers. The exact cause is unclear so other treatable possible causes like infection need to be ruled out. Since the condition can last for a long time, coping strategies are important.

• Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

  Non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate. Age-related changes in male hormone levels are thought to be the cause. Incidence increases with age with an estimated 80% of men over the age of 70 with BPH. Symptoms may include a weak urinary stream, leakage of urine after voiding and urinating frequently at night (nocturia).

• Overactive Bladder

  This group of urinary symptoms causes patients to need to urinate frequently. They may also experience a sudden urge to urinate that is hard to control due to excessive bladder contractions.

• Cystitis
• Urethral Stricture
• Neurogenic Bladder
• Trichomoniasis
• Pollakiuria
• Prostate Cancer

Related Serious Diseases

Sometimes, Urinary retention may be related to these serious diseases:

• Acute Prostatitis

  The sudden inflammation of the prostate gland that can be caused by a bacterial infection.

Doctor's Diagnostic Questions

Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:

• Do you feel your bladder isn't completely empty after you finish urinating?
• When did you first notice feeling that the bladder is not completely emptied after urination?
• How often do you feel like you haven't completely emptied your bladder after urinating?

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