What is urinary retention?

Urinary retention is defined as the inability to fully empty the bladder during urination. This condition can occur due to various underlying issues, such as obstruction in the urinary tract, neurological conditions, or muscle weakness that affects bladder function. When someone experiences urinary retention, they may feel a strong urge to urinate but struggle to fully expel urine, leading to discomfort and potential complications like urinary tract infections or bladder distension.

While involuntary loss of urine describes urinary incontinence, frequent urination refers to the need to urinate more often than usual, and painful urination pertains to dysuria, none of these definitions capture the essence of urinary retention, which specifically concerns the incomplete voiding of the bladder. Understanding urinary retention is critical for diagnosing and managing related health issues effectively.