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Urinary retention is a condition where you can’t empty your bladder (the organ stores urine until you’re ready to pee). Blockages, strictures (narrowing), damage to pelvic floor muscles, medicines, and other health problems can all cause urinary retention (also called bladder retention).
Acute urinary retention comes on suddenly and usually goes away over time. This is the most common type of urinary retention in people with cancer. Certain things increase your risk of acute urinary retention (AUR):
Acute urinary retention is often a medical emergency that needs to be treated as soon as possible.
Chronic urinary retention usually develops slowly over time due to chronic (long-term) conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), diabetes, and kidney problems.
Many things can cause bladder retention. Some common causes for people with cancer include:
Your cancer care team might order tests if you have signs of urinary retention. Some common tests are:
Symptoms of urinary retention are different depending on the person. They sometimes seem like symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI).
The most common symptoms are:
It’s important to treat urinary retention because it can lead to other problems or even cause long-term damage to the bladder muscles.
The bladder is drained by inserting a soft tube called a catheter into the urethra and bladder. Catheters can be intermittent, meaning the catheter is inserted and removed each time the bladder is drained; or indwelling, meaning the catheter is inserted and left in place for a period of time. Some people with chronic urine retention learn to insert their own catheter at home to drain their bladder.
If retention is caused by something blocking the flow of urine from the bladder, a urethral stent might be placed. A stent is a small catheter or tube that is inserted into the bladder and left in place. This usually can be done as an outpatient procedure or during an office visit. The stent may be temporary or kept for a long time to help drain the bladder.
If urinary retention is caused by an enlarged prostate, medicines might help relax or even shrink the prostate. If retention is caused by an infection, antibiotics might be used.
Bladder training
Bladder training creates a schedule of times to pee. You also learn to use mental relaxation techniques to help with urges to go in between scheduled times, and track your progress in a bladder diary. The scheduled in-between times are made longer as you progress.
Pelvic floor (Kegel) exercises can help stretch tight pelvic muscles that support the bladder or other organs in the abdomen. Therapists or nurses trained in pelvic therapy can help you create a plan that is best for your situation.
Biofeedback uses sensors placed near the anus to show on a screen which pelvic muscles are being exercised. Biofeedback can help make pelvic therapy more effective.
In some cases, surgery might be used to treat retention:
If you:
Ask your doctor or cancer care team what you should call right away for versus what can wait until office hours. Make sure you know who to contact when the office is closed.
The P站视频 medical and editorial content team
Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as editors and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
Barrisford GW and Steele GS. Acute urinary retention. UpToDate. UpToDate Inc; 2023. Updated November 2023. Accessed December 21, 2023. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/acute-urinary-retention
McVary KT. Clinical manifestations and diagnostic evaluation of benign prostatic hyperplasia. UpToDate. UpToDate Inc; 2023. Updated November 2023. Accessed December 21, 2023. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/clinical-manifestations-and-diagnostic-evaluation-of-benign-prostatic-hyperplasia
Mueller ER. Postoperative urinary retention in females. UpToDate. UpToDate Inc; 2023. Updated May 2023. Accessed December 21, 2023. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/postoperative-urinary-retention-in-females
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Urinary retention. National Institutes of Health. Accessed December 21, 2023. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/urinary-retention
Rickey LM. Chronic urinary retention in females. UpToDate. UpToDate Inc; 2023. Updated April 2022. Accessed December 21, 2023. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/chronic-urinary-retention-in-females
Last Revised: April 22, 2024
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