Urinary Retention

Urinary retention is when you are not able to urinate (pee) or fully empty your bladder. It can be caused by:

• Anesthesia given during surgery. You should be able to urinate when the anesthesia stops working.
• Blockage in the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder to outside the body.
• Something, like a tumor, pressing against the urethra.
• Damage to the nerves that tell the bladder to empty.
• Infection.
• Side effect of certain medications.
• Side effect of radiation therapy to the pelvis that included the bladder or urethra.

How is it managed?

To treat urinary retention, you need to know what is causing it. Your provider may order lab tests that look at your urine or imaging tests of your urinary system. If urine tests show that you have an infection, antibiotics may be prescribed. You may need your bladder emptied with a catheter. You should drink 6-8 glasses of water each day and empty your bladder at least 4-6 times per day to keep your bladder healthy.

When should I contact my care team?

Call your care provider if you have any of these symptoms:

• Lower abdominal (belly) pain and feeling like you have to urinate.
• Passing a small amount of urine without relief of the urge to urinate.
• Signs of a urinary tract infection (back pain, fever, painful urination, blood in the urine).