Aetiology

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

Reference

1. Selius BA, Subedi R; Urinary retention in adults: diagnosis and initial management. Am Fam Physician. 2008 Mar 1;77(5):643-50.