aetiology
Last reviewed 01/2018
Acute urinary retention often appears suddenly in patients with longstanding symptoms of bladder outflow obstruction, for example benign prostatic hypertrophy, bladder neck hypertrophy, or prostatic carcinoma.
Other causes include - as a complication of surgery, due to fluid overload, drugs, pain, anxiety, embarrassment or the supine posture.
Less common causes include:
- stones or blood clots in the urethra
- urethral stricture
- constipation
- pregnancy - particularly associated with a retroverted uterus
- pelvic tumour
- genital herpes - painful ulceration may result in urinary retention