Overflow incontinence Urinary retention is the inability to empty the bladder completely or at all. It may occur suddenly (acute retention) or develop gradually (chronic retention).
In chronic retention, there may be constant dribbling of urine, a condition known as overflow incontinence. In men, causes of retention include an enlarged prostate, phimosis (tight foreskin), or a narrowed urethra (the tube from the bladder to outside the body).
In women, causes include fibroids (noncancerous growths) in the uterus, and, in pregnancy, pressure on the urethra from the growing fetus. In both sexes, retention may result from constipation , bladder stones, or bladder tumors.
Other causes include spinal injury, multiple sclerosis or diabetes.
It may also occur after surgery or as a side effect of some medications.
Treatment depends on the underlying cause, although acute retention requires urgent medical treatment to drain the accumulated urine.