Urinary retention

Inability to void urine

Painful ( lower abdominal , suprapubic )

Usually rapid onset

Often seen in older men in their 60s-70s ( incidence increases with age )

BPH is the most common cause of acute urinary retention in men ( rarely seen in women )

Obstructive -Outflow obstruction

Can be mechanical ie physical narrowing of the urethral channel or

Increase in muscle tone within and around the urethra as in benign prostatic hypertrophyOther causes include

Meatal stenosis

Constipation ( faecal impaction )

Cancer of the prostate or the urinary bladder

Urethral stricture

Urolithiasis

Phimosis / paraphimosis

Infections Acute prostatitis

Balanitis

Urinary infection leading to urethritis & urthral oedema

Herpes infections ( gential herpes or Varicella zoster ) affecting the sacral never

Neurological - Affecting the sensory and motor innervation of the detrusor muscle

Stroke , concussion , neoplasm / tumor , normal pressure hydrocephalus , , , , Multiple sclerosis , Parkinson's disease

Spinal cord -spinal trauma / cord compression / infarction /Disc herniation / spinal bifida occulta / spinal stenosis / transverse myelitis / abscess , haematoma

Guillain -Barre syndrome , Peripheral neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy

Medications - Medications can cause retention by affecting the neurotransmitters , neurorecptors ,...