Acute Urinary Retention in Men: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Acute urinary retention in men is a condition where urination is absent for over 8 hours, with a full bladder and ineffective urges. This is a urological emergency requiring immediate care.
This article covers how common it is, main causes (prostate adenoma, tumours, spinal/brain injuries), symptoms, first aid (catheterisation, cystostomy), and treatment options.
How common is acute urinary retention in men?
It is frequent in men over 45–50. About 70% of cases are due to benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostatitis. Other causes: kidney stones, UTIs, bladder/urethral tumours, neurological disorders (stroke, spinal cord injury).
Main causes:
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Prostate adenoma (compresses the urethra).
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Tumours of the genitourinary system.
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Spinal cord diseases/trauma.
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Brain diseases/trauma (stroke, tumour, TBI).
Symptoms: severe lower abdominal pain, bladder fullness, difficulty or no urine output.
Diagnosis: ultrasound, urinalysis, cystoscopy, MRI/CT as needed.
First aid:
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Insert a urethral catheter (can stay up to 25 days, then replace).
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For long-term use, consider suprapubic cystostomy – an opening above the pubis to drain urine into a bag. This avoids urethral trauma.
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Simultaneously treat the cause: surgery or medication for adenoma, neurological consultation for CNS issues.
When is cystostomy preferred? When catheterisation is difficult, long-term drainage is needed (>1 month), or urethral injury risk is high. After resolving the cause, it can be removed.
See a urologist early to avoid pyelonephritis, urosepsis, or kidney failure.
Call for home urologist visit: (812) 933-89-56.
