Common Causes
Inability to Urinate Symptoms. With urinary retention, there is an inability to urinate or completely empty the bladder despite an urge to urinate. Some people have the following symptoms: Most people with acute urinary retention also feel pain in the lower abdomen (pelvis) along with the inability to urinate.
Related Conditions
Doctor's Notes on Inability to Urinate An inability to urinate means that person cannot pass urine out of the body through the urethra. Another broad term for inability to urinate is urinary retention, although urinary retention may be considered as either partial or complete.
What are the symptoms of not being able to urinate?
Chronic urinary retention may be associated with decreased urine stream, feeling of incomplete bladder emptying, and/or straining to urinate. Back pain, fever, and painful urination may indicate a urinary tract infection. It’s such a common thing you may not think much about it.
What is the medical term for inability to urinate?
Trouble urinating or urinary hesitancy can occur in men at any age, but it is more common at an older age. An inability to urinate can eventually cause urinary retention, which is when you have reduced urination, and this can be dangerous.
What does it mean when your bladder is not emptying?
What does it mean when a man has trouble urinating?
What causes a person not to urinate?
Urinary retention can be caused by a problem with the nerves that control your bladder. This can happen as a result of diabetes, stroke, multiple sclerosis, brain or spinal cord infections or injuries, or pelvic injury.
What does it mean if you are not urinating?
Anuria, sometimes called anuresis, refers to the lack of urine production. This can happen as a result of conditions like shock, severe blood loss and failure of your heart or kidneys. It can also be due to medications or toxins. Anuria is an emergency and can be life-threatening.
What happens if you stop urinating?
If you don't empty your bladder often enough, or go a couple of days without emptying it all the way, it can result in a urinary tract infection (UTI). If you hold your pee as a matter of habit, your bladder can start to atrophy. Over time, you may develop incontinence.
What are the 3 early warning signs of kidney disease?
3 Warning Signs That You May Be Experiencing Kidney FailureDizziness and Fatigue. One of the first possible signs of weakening kidneys is the experience of overall weakness in yourself and your overall health. ... Swelling (Edema) ... Changes in urination.
What does it mean if I drink a lot of water but don't pee?
Oliguria is the medical term for low urine output. If you have a blockage, your kidneys are producing urine but you aren't able to excrete it. If you aren't producing urine, you may have diseases of the kidneys, heart or lungs. The best way to treat oliguria depends on what is causing the low urine output.
How serious is urinary retention?
People with acute urinary retention are unable to urinate even though they have a full bladder. Acute urinary retention can cause severe pain and be life threatening. If you are suddenly unable to urinate, it's important that you seek emergency medical treatment right away.
What is the most common cause of urinary retention?
The most common cause of urinary retention is benign prostatic hyperplasia. Other common causes include prostatitis, cystitis, urethritis, and vulvovaginitis; receiving medications in the anticholinergic and alpha-adrenergic agonist classes; and cortical, spinal, or peripheral nerve lesions.
What color is urine when your kidneys are failing?
When kidneys are failing, the increased concentration and accumulation of substances in urine lead to a darker color which may be brown, red or purple. The color change is due to abnormal protein or sugar, high levels of red and white blood cells, and high numbers of tube-shaped particles called cellular casts.
How do you know if you have urinary retention?
Symptoms of acute urinary retention may include. the inability to urinate. pain—often severe—in your lower abdomen. the urgent need to urinate. swelling of your lower abdomen.
What does it feel like to pee after a pee?
feeling the need to urinate after finishing urination. leaking urine without any warning or urge. lower abdominal pain or discomfort. The symptoms of acute urinary retention are often severe and can include abdominal pain and the inability to urinate, whereas chronic urinary retention may cause few or no symptoms.
Why is my bladder underactive?
Causes of underactive bladder include. Neurological problems. Urinary retention can occur when there is a problem with your nervous system. NIH external link. that prevents messages from travelling from your brain to your bladder and urethra. There are many different causes of neurological problems, including.
What are the symptoms of urinary retention?
If your chronic urinary retention causes symptoms, they may include. the inability to completely empty your bladder when urinating. frequent urination in small amounts. difficulty starting the flow of urine, called hesitancy. a slow urine stream. the urgent need to urinate, but with little success.
Why does my bladder keep retaining urine?
The causes of urinary retention are related to either a blockage that partially or fully prevents urine from leaving your bladder or urethra, or your bladder not being able to maintain a strong enough force to expel all the urine.
What is enlarged prostate?
enlarged prostate, or benign prostatic hyperplasia. bladder outlet obstruction, such as urethral stricture or scar tissue in the bladder neck. pelvic organ prolapse, including cystocele and rectocele. urinary tract stones, also called calculi. constipation.
Why is my bladder weak?
Bladder muscles that are weak may not contract with enough strength or force to empty the bladder completely. Causes of weakness can include. age-related loss of bladder muscle strength. overdistention—a bladder that has been stretched such that the muscles are damaged. pregnancy and childbirth.
Why does my urine flow so hard?
This condition can also be caused by any of the following: ♦ Infections, like prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate), cause swelling and extra pressure on the urethra, which interferes with urine flow .
What causes a person to pee so hard?
Natural Treatment for Trouble Urinating. Infections are the most common cause of urination problems. Other potential causes may require medical attention, but infections can be treated naturally. Depending on the infection, your doctor may prescribe medications.
What gland is responsible for excreting urine?
The prostate gland is situated around the urethra and is responsible for carrying urine from the bladder to be excreted. Enlarged prostates are common among older men, and when this gland swells, it increases pressure on the prostatic urethra.
How to get urine flow to be healthy?
You can promote regular and healthy urine flow by doing the following: ♦ Massaging the bladder area. ♦ Applying a hot water bottle or heating pad to the abdominal area. ♦ Taking a warm bath or shower. Natural Treatment for Trouble Urinating. Infections are the most common cause of urination problems.
Does copper help with urination?
As part of a regular health routine, copper AAC can prevent urinary tract infections that can interfere with urination. In the event that an enlarged prostate is causing trouble urinating, you can try these natural ingredients to improve prostate health and reduce inflammation and swelling.
Can you get a diagnosis for persistent urination?
Temporary trouble urinating is not usually anything to worry about, but when the symptom becomes persistent or chronic, you need to get a diagnosis and treatment. In addition to these, there are remedies you can try at home. They require minimal effort and can help to relieve the uncomfortable symptom.
Is it normal to pee every now and then?
Trouble urinating every now and then can be normal, and there are a number of possible causes. But when it occurs often, ignoring the problem can lead to worse complications. Read this to learn the causes, and when it’s time to seek professional treatment.
What to do if your urine is low?
You should always alert your doctor if you experience decreased urine output. If you don’t already have a primary care provider, you can browse doctors in your area through the Healthline FindCare tool. You should seek emergency medical attention if you feel that your body may be going into shock.
What is the medical term for a decreased output of urine?
Oliguria is the medical term for a decreased output of urine. Oliguria is considered to be a urinary output of less than 400 milliliters, which is less than about 13.5 ounces over the course of 24 hours.
How much urine is considered anuria?
The absence of urine is known as anuria. Less than 50 milliliters or less than about 1.7 ounces of urine in a 24-hour period is considered to be anuria.
Why does urine output decrease?
Dehydration. Dehydration is the most common cause of decreased urine output. Typically, dehydration occurs when you’re ill with diarrhea, vomiting, or another illness, and can’t replace the fluids that you’re losing. When this happens, your kidneys retain as much fluid as possible.
How to treat oliguria?
Your doctor may prescribe an IV drip that quickly rehydrates your body or dialysis to help remove toxins until your kidneys can work correctly again .
What does a doctor do with urine?
Your doctor may need you to give a urine sample or at least try. They’ll analyze it for color, protein, and uric acid levels. They’ll also test the sample for any signs of infection.
What to do if you have less urine?
If your medication causes you to release less urine, you should discuss your concerns with your doctor. They may change your medication or adjust your current dosage. Never change or stop taking a medication without first consulting your doctor.
Why is my urine output low?
Low urine output also occurs when there is a decreased blood supply to the kidney, such as occurs with dehydration or excessive blood loss. Obstruction of outflow of the urine, either due to tumors, enlargement of the prostate, or bladder problems can also reduce urine output. Reduced urine output as a result of kidney failure can be acute, ...
How do you know if you have kidney stones?
Symptoms of kidney stones can include pain, nausea, vomiting, and even fever and chills. Kidney stones are diagnosed via CT scans and specialized X-rays. Treatment of kidney stones involves drinking lots of fluids and taking over-the-counter pain medications to medical intervention including prescription medications, lithotripsy, and sometimes even surgery.
How Do You Treat Mucus in Urine?
Learn what medical treatments can help with mucus in your urine and speed up your recovery.
What happens when the kidneys fail?
As the kidneys fail or become compromised in their ability to function, the kidneys lose the ability to regulate fluids and electrolytes and to remove waste products from the body. Additionally, red blood cell production (which is normally driven by a substance produced in the kidneys) decreases. Low urine output also occurs when there is ...
What are the symptoms of urinary incontinence?
Others may lose small to moderate amounts of urine more frequently. Types of urinary incontinence include: Stress incontinence. Urine leaks when you exert pressure on your bladder by coughing, sneezing, laughing, exercising or lifting something heavy. Urge incontinence.
How to prevent urinary incontinence?
Practice pelvic floor exercises. Avoid bladder irritants, such as caffeine, alcohol and acidic foods. Eat more fiber, which can prevent constipation, a cause of urinary incontinence. Don't smoke, or seek help to quit if you're a smoker. By Mayo Clinic Staff. Urinary incontinence care at Mayo Clinic.
Why is it important to seek medical advice for urinary incontinence?
But if incontinence is frequent or is affecting your quality of life, it's important to seek medical advice because urinary incontinence may: Cause you to restrict your activities and limit your social interactions. Negatively impact your quality of life.
What is mixed incontinence?
Mixed incontinence. You experience more than one type of urinary incontinence — most often this refers to a combination of stress incontinence and urge incontinence.
What is the male urinary system?
Male urinary system. Your urinary system — which includes your kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra — removes waste from your body through urine. Your kidneys, located in the rear portion of your upper abdomen, produce urine by filtering waste and fluid from your blood.
What happens to the bladder after menopause?
Menopause. After menopause, women produce less estrogen, a hormone that helps keep the lining of the bladder and urethra healthy. Deterioration of these tissues can aggravate incontinence.
What diseases can cause incontinence?
Some diseases. Neurological disease or diabetes may increase your risk of incontinence.
Why is my urine yellow?
As it turns out, while urine that is yellow, golden, or orange-tinted can hint at dehydration, according to WebMD, the color of your urine could also be affected by something you ate or a medication you took.
Why do we pee after sex?
Peeing after sex can help flush the bacteria out and prevent a UTI or bladder infection. So, in other words, if you're not peeing after sex, you're not peeing enough.
Can you go to the bathroom when you pee?
You Can't Go When You Want To. As Healthline reported, when you hold your pee "for 10 hours or more," you run the risk of developing urinary retention, which means that even when you desperately want to relieve yourself, the muscles in your bladder can't relax.
Can you pee too long?
Holding your pee for too long can cause your bladder to "stretch," as Health reported, and when that happens, residual urine has a way of leaking out when you're not expecting. Interestingly enough, going to the bathroom too often can result in an "overactive bladder," so you really want to strive for moderation here.
What happens if you don't empty your bladder?
If you don’t empty your bladder often enough, or go a couple of days without emptying it all the way, it can result in a urinary tract infection (UTI). If you hold your pee as a matter of habit, your bladder can start to atrophy. Over time, you may develop incontinence.
When you first feel the urge to pee, what happens?
When you first feel the urge to pee, your bladder probably has quite some time to go before it’s completely filled up. And when your bladder becomes full, the muscles around it contract to keep urine from leaking out until you’re ready to release it.
What is the line of communication between the bladder and the brain?
Research tells us that the bladder has a direct line of communication with your brain. Your bladder is full of receptors that tell your brain how full your bladder is. Basically, there’s an invisible “fill line” in your bladder. When your urine reaches that point, your brain receives a signal that indicates you need to pee.
What color should a child's urine be?
Pay attention to the color of the urine in your child’s diaper. It should be a clear to light yellow color. Pee that is dark amber or darker could indicate a dehydrated child. Be especially mindful of dehydration for babies and toddlers during the summer months.
How long does it take to pee after a bladder infection?
Don’t wait a long time to address difficulty peeing. After 36 to 48 hours of symptoms, it’s time to seek a professional diagnosis.
How often do infants urinate?
Infants and children have smaller bladders, so they need to empty their bladders more often. Infants typically produce six to eight wet diapers a day, but can urinate much more than that.
How long does it take for a bladder to be full?
A healthy bladder can hold about 2 cups of urine before it’s considered full. It takes your body 9 to 10 hours to produce 2 cups of urine. That’s about as long as you can wait and still be in the safe zone without the possibility of damaging your organs. In the worst of circumstances, your bladder may stretch to hold even more than 2 cups of fluid.
What is it called when urine output is abnormally low?
When urine output is abnormally low, this is called oliguria.
Can you pee after drinking more water?
This is especially true if even after increasing your water intake more, you are still seemingly barely urinating. Dr. Levitan is board certified in internal medicine and has a special interest in women’s health and preventive medicine.
Can kidney failure cause oliguria?
Acute kidney failure will definitely result in oliguria. Acute kidney injury can be caused by acute heart failure, acute liver failure, an adverse drug reaction, poisoning or a urinary tract obstruction, to name a few. However, severe kidney distress will be accompanied by other symptoms.
What is it called when you can't pee?
Most of the time, people do not notice their symptoms until the problem gets severe. Delay in diagnosis often results in complete inability to pee known as urinary retention.
What does it feel like to pee?
One feels a frequent and strong urge to urinate and gets cloudy or foul smell ing urine. There is a painful sensation while urinating. One may also feel nausea or vomiting. In severe cases there is abdominal or muscle pain too.
Why do diabetics pee so much?
Diabetes, type 2: People with diabetes will experience problems like an overactive bladder, urge to urinate often and urine retention. The underlying problem is that due to nerve damage, the bladder loses its ability to sense its fullness. As time goes by, the diabetic bladder patients notice that an urgent sensation to urinate gets replaced by a dull and vague sensation which is put off my many. This results in the bladder muscles to stretch in order to accommodate a larger amount of urine. The bladder clearly loses its sense of fullness and also loses its ability to empty completely resulting in filling up quickly. Hence a diabetic bladder needs to urinate often. This condition often results in UTI or urine incontinence. The weak urine stream treatment for a diabetic bladder requires you to void the bladder often and completely till the bladder returns to its normal self.
Why do men get urinary tract infections?
An infection in the urinary tract can occur due to sexual intercourse, poor hygiene, not emptying the bladder totally, bowel incontinence, blocked urine flow, kidney stones, use of heavy antibiotics and immobility for longer periods.
Why is my urine stream weak?
A weak urine stream majorly means difficulty in getting a urine flow. This generally occurs in older men due to an enlarged prostate. They can have problems with dribbling, starting urinating and a slow or weak urine stream. Infection in the urinary tract or prostate could also lead to weak urine stream in men.
How do you know if you have bladder cancer?
Bladder cancer: Bladder cancer is often detected early due to blood in the urine and severe discomfort while urinating. An advanced bladder cancer will cause inability to urinate completely, bones and muscles pain, weak urine stream, fatigue and loss of appetite. These symptoms could be due to some other underlying conditions too. One should get a medical test done to find out the exact reason for such problems. While there are no ways of preventing cancer, one can surely take some treatment to get some relief from the pain and discomfort. A surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or immunotherapy might be suggested by the cancer care team. Sometimes the entire bladder is suggested to be removed to relieve one from the pain.
Why is my urine weak?
The reasons for a weak urine stream in males can be either of the below mentioned diseases: Urinary tract infection (UTI): This is often caused by bacteria that overcome the defense system in the urinary tract of the body. This bacterium spreads to the bladder, kidneys and tubes present in the urinary tract.
