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.



