Common symptoms of urinary retention
What are common signs/symptoms of urinary retention?
Common symptoms of subacute and chronic urinary retention include urinary frequency, urgency, decreased urinary flow, intermittent urinary stream, and bothersome nocturia.
In severe acute urinary retention (inability to urinate in the setting of a full bladder), patients often develop pelvic pain and anxiety.
In contrast, patients with progressive chronic retention, large bladders, hypotonic bladders, neurogenic bladders, or decreased bladder sensation may not have any symptoms in the presence of significant underlying urinary retention.
Some patients develop incontinence due to unexpected detrusor contractions or overflow of urine in the setting of a full bladder.
On physical exam, a full bladder may be palpable between the pubic bone and the umbilicus.
